Published at 31st of August 2019 4:11 am

Volume 2, Chapter 03: Yeah, let’s go to Elni’s house.

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

I repetitively kicked and stroke while sharply breathing out. After a releasing a combo attack of my fist and feet while the air made a sound of being pierced, I changed into a loose stance. Putting all my strength into each attack, I stroke my palms against the empty air.

Even repeating my training calmly…. didn’t let me concentrate. My movements were stiff, blunt and not beautiful.

I let out a big sigh, undid my stance and stopped my movements.

Like I thought, morning practice wasn’t suited for me. I could bring out my potential better in the afternoon rather than in the morning.

Well, that wasn’t the only reason I couldn’t concentrate…

Complaining like that to myself, I raised my gaze from the ground to the sky. The soft morning sun shone into my eyes. It wasn’t even six o’clock yet. Silence all around me, except for the bike sounds of the newspaper delivery boys.

I would have known immediately if Nazuna came back home when it was this quiet…. Is what crossed my mind and made me sigh again.

Last night I had trouble falling asleep and then woke up early in the morning.

I couldn’t stop worrying about Nazuna, so I had come out to here to the front garden, but there was no way Nazuna would return at a time like this.

While scratching my head, I took the newspaper out of the mail box and went back inside. Normally it was Nazuna’s task to fetch the newspaper, but Luna would probably take it over for a while.

I glanced at the newspaper and remembered about yesterday.

When I explained everything about Nazuna to my mother yesterday, she made a really worried expression for a moment, but then she just said “Let’s wait up and see for now” and went back into the living room.

She might look nonchalant, but my mother was surprisingly kind. I’m sure she had reached some kind of answer…. But I couldn’t seem to approve.

I’ll check upon Nazuna after school.

I returned to the living room from the garden and sat down on the sofa with this thought. I looked at the clock. It was still a long time until breakfast.

I had nothing else to do, so I opened the newspaper and went through the third page, when suddenly someone entered the living room.

“Luna?”

While thinking it was pretty early for her, I turned around. It wasn’t Luna how I saw there.

It was Gogyou-san.

She had been asleep since yesterday, so I was worried, but it seems she woke up now. While relieved, I averted my gaze from Gogyou-san.

I knew that Luna and my mother changed her clothes, but not that it was into just a single shirt. The unbuttoned chest area revealed a cleavage. Further down she wasn’t wearing pants or a skirt, so her erotic tights caught my eyes.

“A- Are you better now?”

I looked down on the newspaper fretful and asked….But I got no answer no matter how long I waited.

“Gogyou-san?”

I found it strange, so I once again looked at Gogyou-san. She had sleepy and spaced out eyes. And probably still sleepy, she said while blinking.

“I want… some water…”

Her voice had the spoiled tone of a child.

She wasn’t her usual cool self.

She was mostly half asleep, but heck, she was so cute. Her eyes lacked the usual sharpness, her drowsily expression was adorable and her slightly opened mouth was also like a child’s.

“Is tea okay?”

I asked gently, when Gogyou-san nodded. I went into the dining kitchen, took the tea out of the refrigerator and poured it into a cup. I returned to the living room, where Gogyou-san sat drowsily on the sofa. I sat down besides her and passed her the cup of tea in my hand. Gogyou-san took the cup and slowly drank the tea.

“Thanks.”

She returned the cup to me with a smile, then closed her eyes and leaned against me…. She fell asleep peacefully.

“Eh? Huh? H- Hey?”

Gogyou-san had her cheek against my shoulder and exposed her adorable sleeping face. A warm body temperature and a soft, big swelling pressing against my upper arm.

Shifting my gaze down, I saw a beautiful cleavage. Her big breast pressing against my upper arm had softly changed form.

…This was bad.

I felt danger on various fronts, so I grabbed Gogyou-san’s shoulder and said with a slightly raised voice.

“H- Hey, don’t daze off. Wake up, Gogyou-san.”

Her body swayed lightly and she opened her eyes with a “Hmm?”. After she stared at me, she looked around perplexed. Upon that her drowsily eyes regained their usual sharpness.

When Gogyou-san looked at me again, her face was bright red and she got away from me.

“Eh? Wha? Ehh? Wh- What’s going on? I’m, ehm…”

Gogyou-san looked down on her own clothes extremely flustered, looked at me and then restlessly observed the surroundings. Her behaviour was just so cute that I uncontrolled

“…Gogyou-san, you were so vehement last night.”

said smitten with my cheeks red.

Immediately Gogyou-san turned bright red up to her eyes, like I had predicted.

“Ehh? D- Don’t tell me, I… and you…? N- No way, it was my first time and I don’t remember it at all…!”

“No, I don’t know what you’re thinking of, but I meant your sleeping posture.”

I said nonchalant to the panicking Gogyou-san.

Needless to say, Gogyou-san turned even redder and covered her face with both her hands.

She was incredible cute.

But teasing her anymore would be too sad. I coughed once, then explained her about what happened yesterday. Then I said additional.

“—Luna changed your clothes, so don’t worry about it. Also, I’m sorry, but I checked the address book of your cell phone.”

I immediately added “But I only looked up the number of your parents”.

“My mother called your parents and let them know that you’re staying over here. So you don’t need to worry about that either.”

When I finished my explanation, Gogyou-san suddenly stood up and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry that I caused you trouble.”

“Nah, you also helped me a lot before, so it’s not a big deal. You don’t need to lower your head. I can see your cleavage, you know?”

Washington was also honest and he was forgiven.

Following the mindset I already had with Machina, I said so. Upon that Gogyou-san looked down on her own chest, hastily covered her breasts with her hands and straightened up while apologizing with a “Sorry”. I had expected that she would be angry, no that she would apologize.

Well, I understood well that the Washington mindset choose it’s owner.

I stood up from the sofa and said to the slightly flustered Gogyou-san.

“So what now? Will you go home? If you still don’t feel well, you can rest some more here…”

I thought it was only natural to consider her health, so I asked, but Gogyou-san was a bit surprised and after she muttered a “You’re really kind after all, Nanjou-kun”, she lowered her head only a bit this time.

“Thank you. But I’m all fine already. I’ll go home.”

“I see. I’ll send you off.”

“Yeah. That would be nice, but well….”

Gogyou-san said with her cheeks lightly red again.

“Nanjou-kun, I would like you to return my clothes.”

If someone else heard this sentence, I would certainly be mistaken for a pervert…

* * *

KNOCK KNOCK. I knocked onto Luna’s door.

Gogyou-san wanted me to return her clothes, but Luna washed her blood tainted clothes and they weren’t dry yet.

That was why I stood in front of Luna’s room to get some spare clothes.

“…Guess she’s still sleeping.”

There was no reply to my knocking.

I felt bad about waking her up so early, but after a “I’m coming in”, I entered Luna’s room. Then I approached Luna, who was sleeping on her bed.

“—GULP.”

No, that wasn’t the time to gulp now. It wasn’t the time to, but Luna’s sleeping appearance was just way too erotic.

Was Luna the type, who sleep naked? Her charming neck and collarbone line caught my eye and on top of her shoulders I spotted the pink strap of her brassiere. Furthermore, Luna was laying sideways, so I got a good look into her cleavage.

….Don’t tell me, she was just sleeping in her underwear?

I took a deep breath to keep my reasoning and called out to Luna.

“Luna, sorry, but wake up. Luna.”

I said it into her ears.

“Yahn”

I received back an extremely sexy voice mixed with a sigh.

“Ah, no, Luna-san. I do not want you to go ‘yahn’, but to wake up…”

For some reason I changed into polite talking. I shook Luna’s shoulders.

“Mmh. Not. Nooo….”

An unbelievable sexy voice answered.

“U- Uhm, Luna-san? No ‘nots’, please wake up.”

“Yahn. Noth shere.”

Along with these voices, Luna turned around in her sleep.

…Mhm. Seemed Luna was ‘noth’ addressable. Nothing to do then. Actually, my reasoning was close to say good-bye. Why was she so erotic. Erotic Luna!

But with the thought that she’s surprisingly weak in the morning, I left her room.

“Somehow that was really nerve-wrecking…”

Mumbling that, I gave up on getting spare clothes from Luna and headed for the changing room. There I dried Gogyou-san’s clothes with the drying machine.

* * *

I sent off Gogyou-san until close to her house. After that I went home leisurely, got ready like always and headed off to school.

But somehow the usual walk to school felt boring and my steps were heavy.

It became so different just because Nazuna wasn’t beside me?

Surprised about that, I suddenly had float Nazuna’s crying face in my head.

I immediately grew the desire to comfort Nazuna…but like my mother had suggested, it might be best to just observe for a while now.

Luna properly apologized to Nazuna. The rest was only a matter of Nazuna’s feelings. Once she calmed down and returned to her usual honest self, Nazuna would surely apologize to Luna on her own.

I walked while having these thoughts, when

“Nanjou-kun.”

an edged voice stopped me.

When I turned around, there stood Gogyou-san, who I parted with just earlier. She was approaching me with a slightly flustered expression.

“Ehm, thanks for this morning.”

“Sure. How are you?”

“…Yeah, I’m all good now.”

Even though she answered that, her expression was somewhat gloomy.

“Did something happen?”

I asked, when Gogyou-san’s shoulder lightly trembled.

I didn’t ask anything this morning, but when she made a face like that, it bothered me.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine… But I’m always willing to lend you an ear. I’ll be glad to help you out.”

I was indebted to Gogyou-san for the case with Luna.

When I said that to repay the favour, even though it was embarrassing, Gogyou-san made a somewhat surprised expression then giggled.

“Wh- What’s so funny?”

“Nanjou-kun, you’re bright red.”

“Sh- Shut up. I just have a heavier blood circulation than others. Leave me alone.”

Like I thought, I shouldn’t say stuff I’m not used to. I was eager to get away from Gogyou-san, when I was suddenly firmly grabbed at my sleeve.

“Sorry, Nanjou-kun. I didn’t really want to tease you. You know, I was happy….”

Gogyou-san hesitated for a bit, then continued with a “So”

“This might sound like nagging, but will you listen to it?”

Gogyou-san made an insecure expression as she thought I might turn her down.

“Yeah, nagging or whatever, tell me.”

I nodded firmly, when Gogyou-san said “Thanks” with a smile.

That she got so happy by just listening to her nagging made me somewhat embarrassed.

I averted my gaze from her smile and gave audience to her.

According to Gogyou-san, cases of strange patients kept increasing for some time at the hospital of our city— the Midoriyama Hospital.

A patient, who was fine until the day before, would suddenly get worse and unable to leave the bed after 2-3 days. Furthermore, the reason for it was unknown. The doctors believed it to be some kind of virus, but when the exorcists got wind of that, they had decided that an inspection was needed.

And the result from the inspection that various exorcists made at the hospital, revealed that like expected a devil had hidden there and was sucking out the life-force from the patients.

Immediately the exorcists had tried to exorcise it. But the inspecting exorcists were beaten by the devil and had no choice but to retreat.

Normally a devil that sucked human’s life force was a low level devil, but this one seemed to be different.

Half human, half devil. A hybrid between human and devil. The type of devil the exorcists hated the most.

The troubling part of such a devil was that the human half reduced the exorcise spell to half it’s effectiveness. That’s why a hybrid devil could cross the barrier to the human world without great damage, when he suppressed his power.

Apparently it sucked the life force of the patients in the hospital to heal the wounds it suffered by passing the barrier. The healed hybrid devil then showed great power even in the human world.

When Luna’s stepfather Bram came to the human world before, he lost half of his power and even left his left arm in the demon realm to cross the barrier.

But regardless his loss of power, he was still a formidable opponent.

With that in mind, I could easily imagine that the hybrid devil had incredible power.

Actually, none of them died, but various exorcists got injured.

“That’s when they asked me. They said I, the daughter of Gogyou, would surely be able to exorcise that devil. They praised me, so not to bring my father any shame, I tried my best, but….”

Gogyou-san clenched her fist firmly and continued.

“But it was no good. They had such expectations of me, but I couldn’t answer them….”

She lost to the said devil and ran away.

Even all beaten up, she had chased after the devil. That was when she met me and lost consciousness. It was more than obvious how another fight against the devil in her condition would have turned out. Gogyou-san might have been desperate in trying to answer the expectation placed on her, but

“Don’t overstrain yourself. It’s okay to run away from time to time.”

There was no need for her to fight until she was all beaten up.

“It’s not like I don’t understand how it feels to want to meet expectations… But you have to take more care of your own body.”

If she had fought with the devil in that condition yesterday, it surely wouldn’t have ended with mere injuries.

“Even if you happen to meet these expectations, it’s not worth it when you gravely hurt yourself, right? If someone should complain about your loss, I’ll be on your side. So don’t overstrain yourself.”

I got too passionate and before I noticed it, it turned into a lecture.

I might have said something unnecessary.

I doubtful looked at Gogyou-san, wondering if I screwed up, when I suddenly opened my eyes widely. Gogyou-san’s eyes were wet and she looked about to cry.

I had never seen her like that.

Damn. I might have hurt her.

“S- Sorry. It wasn’t my place to say that. Ehm, I had no intention to hurt you…”

I hastily apologized, when Gogyou-san shook her head and said.

“That’s not it… I’m just too happy… Thanks…. Nanjou-kun.”

Stuck for words, Gogyou-san repeated a thanks.

Not only didn’t I know how to treat the teary Gogyou-san, but I was also confused by my abjection.

I worried about what to do, when I remember about the dog cell phone strap that I won at the lottery yesterday.

Mh, Mhm. Gogyou-san loves dogs, so let’s give it to her. She might like it and smile again.

“F- For now, you get a reward, since you worked so hard. Here, you love dogs, right?”

Still restless, I pulled out the dog strap from my pocket and presented it Gogyou-san.

“….You’re so kind, Nanjou-kun.”

For some reason, Gogyou-san teared up even more.

Ehh? It had the opposite effect?

“This is quite popular, so even if you order it, it’s hard to get….. And you give it to, because I love dogs…”

That reminded me, the woman at the lottery said the same.

“Nah, it’s nothing special. Don’t worry about it. C’mon, put it on your cell phone.”

When I suggested such, Gogyou-san nodded honestly, pulled out her cell phone and put the strap on it. And when she looked at the swaying strap on the cell phone, she finally smiled. Good. I made a big sigh of relief.

For a while Gogyou-san gazed at the strap with a smile, then she made an expression as she noticed something. She looked at me and with flustered cheeks she said shyly.

“H- Hey, Nanjou-kun, if you don’t mind… would you like to exchange phone numbers?”

“Eh? Really?”

I asked in surprise, when Gogyou-san nodded still red.

When she made such a face, even I got embarrassed for some reason.

While scratching my cheeks, I exchanged numbers with Gogyou-san.

“—!”

I suddenly felt a gaze on me.

I got a feeling that someone was watching me.

I turned around slowly, but there wasn’t anyone behind me.

It wasn‘t close by, but the moment I turned around, the presence vanished.

….I remembered that I felt a similar gaze before.

Wondering what it was, I tilted my head. Upon that I made eye-contact with Gogyou-san. It seemed she also felt the same thing as me.

“Could it be you felt a gaze too, Gogyou-san?”

“No, rather than a gaze, it felt like a bad presence….But you did too, Nanjou-kun?”

I nodded and spoke as I remembered.

“Reminds me, I felt a similar presence before…”

“Before?”

“Yeah. Two days ago, I think? I walked down the street, when I felt a presence like just now. Oh no, what if it’s a stalker?”

It wasn’t really a pleasant story.

“Scary.”

I mumbled quietly.

“It’s okay.”

Gogyou-san said firmly.

“If anything should happen to you, I’ll come to your aid, Nanjou-kun.”

After her edged eyes seized me straight on, she gently narrowed them.

I said it half jokingly, so it was embarrassing when she took me so serious.

I once again scratched my cheek, when Gogyou-san muttered a “Oh right” as she remembered something. She suddenly opened the collar of her uniform a bit and stuck her hand inside. Her hand extended towards her chest and was going to pull out something.

Mh, Gogyou-san was an exorcist, so it was easy to imagine that she would carry around some hidden tools with her. To her it must have been an every-day thing. But every time she moved her hand around her chest, her big breasts swayed. And here I stood, staring at it.

Gogyou-san didn’t seem to notice my predicament. She pulled out something from her clothes and presented it to me.

What was that? I looked at Gogyou-san’s hand with a tilted head. She held a single piece of paper.

“What’s that?”

“A type of talisman.”

I asked and Gogyou-san continued with a serious expression.

“Nanjou-kun, you have the devil Luna besides you, right? To be honest, that isn’t all that good.”

“Eh Really?”

Gogyou-san nodded and continued.

“Devils end up effecting humans for the better or worse.”

From Gogyou-san’s point of view Luna was a somewhat strange devil and it was possible that her effect on me changed my body into a condition that allured devils.

Technically I received a ring from Luna’s stepfather Bram that prevented to become effected by devils, but apparently it was something to let a human, who was possessed by a devil, keep his personality. So it might not be enough for me. Gogyou-san finished her explanation.

“Just keep the talisman in your room and it should naturally cleanse your body. It’ll also be helpful when devils attack you. Well, think if it as a protection charm.”

I could feel Gogyou-san’s warmth on the talisman. But

“Is it okay? Aren’t these talismans pretty expensive?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s only around 400-500.”

…Hold it.

Around 400-500? Hopefully not millions?

Gogyou-san said “It’s a thanks for this” and held up the strap from earlier…. But wasn’t the difference in value too high?

Still taken aback, I put the talisman from my palm into carefully into a clear file in my bag. Then I looked back at Gogyou-san. Upon that Gogyou-san said with a serious expression.

“Okay, Nanjou-kun. Actually, there’s another thing.”

“O- Okay. Out with it.”

I was still disconcerted over the talisman, which showed in the voice I unconsciously leaked.

Upon hearing that, Gogyou-san loosened her expression a bit, but soon enough made her usual edged expression. After she hesitated for a bit, she opened her mouth.

“….It’s about the transfer student, Orangelo-san.”

“The transfer student? Ahh, Machina. Reminds me, you said you felt a bad presence from her. Is it about that?”

Before Gogyou-san could answer.

“—You need anything from me?”

Suddenly the voice of an interfering third person.

I didn’t know for how long she had stood there when I turned around. Long, red hair and amber eyes. Smart and finely chiselled features. And the way how she looked at us with her arms crossed was like a Queen’s, no doubt.

“So, I’ll ask again, do you need anything from me?”

The red-haired Queen—- Machina approached as leisurely while looking glaring at Gogyou-san with narrowed eyes.

Her stunning look made Gogyou-san fell silent and stare back in return.

After a short, awkward silence, for some reason Gogyou-san bit her lips somewhat frustrated,

“Let’s go, Nanjou-kun.”

grabbed my hand and started walking.

I was surprised at suddenly being pulled away, but nodded vaguely and followed Gogyou-san. But

“I’m coming with you.”

Machina lined up besides us and held onto my arm for some reason. Then she pulled on my arm to get me away from Gogyou-san. Seeing that, Gogyou-san frowned with a “Hmp”, held firmly onto my other arm and pulled me stronger to her in opposition.

Thereupon Machina also frowned and once again pulled on my arm with more strength.

Needless to say, their voluptuous breasts were pressing on my arms, pinching them between a soft and elastic sensation. For a moment, my mind went blank.

Furthermore, a sweet fragrance was coming from both of them and since they were exerting quite the strength, the sensation of their breasts was directly transmitted onto my arms.

Their size and softness were fighting a desperate battle, but for size, Machina was slightly superior. But since Gogyou-san’s breasts had an indescribable softness, so it was hard to decide a winner— But it wasn’t the time to go off into my own little world.

Gogyou-san and Machina were pulling onto my arms in opposition with red faces, which attracted the gazes of all those around us.

To others it must have looked like a bloody battle. The strength with which they pulled on my arms increased steadily and my arms started to hurt.

That was when I shouted.

“Stop it, you two! Don’t fight over me! It’s all my fault for being so beautiful!”

The moment I shouted that, Machina made a perplexed expression and let go off me quickly.

For a moment, because the power balance was broken, I was strongly pulled to the right by Gogyou-san.

She probably hadn’t expected Machina to let go so suddenly. Gogyou-san lost her balance and was about to fall. Hastily I put my hand around Gogyou-san’s hip and supported her. But I also lost my balance—-and plunged my head into her breasts.

On both my cheeks I felt a soft, warm and gentle sensation.

…Ahh, now I had done it. Not just in the game centre before, but once again I had plunged my head into her breasts.

Before, when I dived into her breasts by accident, I received a splendid twin fist shot.

I didn’t want to suffer that again.

I hastily tried to get away from Gogyou-san. But for some reason my head was firmly embraced. Then

“Don’t let go so suddenly. That’s dangerous.”

Gogyou-san raised an angry voice. It was rare for her to raise her voice, but even more surprising was this dream-like situation. The smell of shampoo and the soft sensation from an embrace.

“Nanjou-kun, are you okay?”

“In a way I’m not, but I’m fine.”

I answered the worried voice and regrettably detached myself from Gogyou-san. Then I regained my composure while shifting my gaze to Machina. She looked at me with narrowed eyes and said.

“Pervert. You have a grin on your face.”

“Y- You’re imagining things. The corners of my mouth are just a bit higher than usual, so it might look like that to you.”

“Hee.”

After a profound smile, Machina once again grabbed my arm and pressed her big breasts against it.

“…Th- That’s not working on me.”

“Says the pervert.”

Machina smiled erotically.

I was charmed by that expression inadvertent, when Gogyou-san draw closer frowning. She grabbed Machina’s arm and forcefully pulled us two apart. Then she said angrily.

“D- Don’t get close to Nanjou-kun.”

….What a surprise that Gogyou-san said that.

While I was surprised by the unusual statement, Machina glared at Gogyou-san.

“Oh be quiet. He’s mine, so take a hike.”

“I won’t hand over Nanjou-kun to you.”

Saying that, Gogyou-san reached out for her bamboo blade pouch that hung on her shoulder. Machina just laughed dauntless and took a stance with her right hand raised.

Hey, hey, were they going to fight here?

That wasn’t exactly good.

“Hey, calm down, you two. Be more aware of your surroundings.”

When I panicky urged them, Machina sighed and put down her hand. Then she said while looking at Gogyou-san.

“It seems you’re under some kind of misunderstanding, but I have no intention to start anything at school, you know?”

“…You think I would trust you on that?”

“That’s up to you. Just…”

Machina narrowed her eyes piercingly.

“When you run your mouth to Nanjou-kun, I might change my mind.”

“…Is that a warning?”

“Yes.”

Then Machina smiled, suddenly hit my shoulder and said.

“I’m only after Nanjou-kun. I don’t care about anything else.”

Machina faced me with a grand smile.

A shiver ran down my spine.

When she looked at me with her amber eyes that were sucking me in, it felt like my brain was melting. A sweet something gentle entered my brain and took away my ability to think. For a moment I entrusted my body to that sweet feeling and was about to lose consciousness—but I finally pulled myself together and concentrating on taking a deep breath. That was probably effective, as my blanked out mind became clear again.

…Amnesia? Believing it was due to my lack of sleep, I twisted my head, when

“That’s a surprise. To think you could shake it off…”

Machina was looking at me attentively.

Hastily Gogyou-san jumped between us.

“You…!”

“Rest assured. It failed.”

Machina gave Gogyou-san, who was holding her bamboo blade pouch in her hand, a side glance, then sighed and went on.

“For always acting like a fool, he got a strong will.”

Machina mumbled a profound “Too bad”, turned her back to us and walked away.

“Ah, wait!”

Gogyou-san called after her, but Machina only answered back a “See you at school” while waving her hand and walked off alone.

The left behind Gogyou-san made a frustrated expression, but I only titled my head, since I had no clue what was going on.

* * *

When first period started, I showed Machina my textbook like yesterday and wondered if Nazuna was properly going to school.

For a while I watched the back of the math teacher, who was writing some formulas on the blackboard, when Machina suddenly called out to me in a quiet voice.

“Hey, Nanjou.”

“Hey, that’s not it. Call me Master, like you were told to.”

“Ah, sorry, Master—-wait, I don’t remember being told that! And why did I say that in a slightly gently tone? That surprised me!”

Yeah, actually I was surprised too. To be honest, being called “Master” meekly was exciting.

I considered making her say a different line, when Machina didn’t learn her lesson and called out to me again in a small voice.

“Hey, slave.”

“You’re the slave. Don’t get cocky.”

“Ah, yes. I am sorry, Master—-wait, why! Why aren’t you falling for it? It’s unfair that it’s only me! How can you lie like it’s nothing? Idiot! Pervert! Lecher!”

Machina shouted with a bright red face, ignored the glare from the teacher and kicked my shin while firing baseless insults at me.

But I, satisfied by hearing “Master” again, generously accepted those.

She sure was fun to tease.

With a smile I shifted my gaze back to the blackboard and listened to class, when Machina suddenly put her arm around my shoulder.

Two soft, big and beloved things were pressing me and when I turned around, Machina’s finely chiselled features jumped into my vision. Machina brought her well-shaped, pink lips near my ear and whispered.

“Hey, Nanjou. I’ll say it once more, become my slave.”

Her voice had a demanding tone, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable and a strange sensation that numbed my spine attacked me. Still, I passed on being a slave.

“Machina, I’ll also ask once more: What privileges do I get from that?”

When I asked quietly, Machina blew into my ear and answered erotically.

“I wouldn’t mind letting you lick my legs.”

“No, I would rather have your breasts.”

“N- Not the breasts!”

I thought she would fall for it like usual, but it seemed the breasts were no good.

I made a big sigh and said.

“End of negotiation then.”

I averted my gaze from the flustered Machina and faced the blackboard.

“Hey wait.”

I heard a hectic voice.

I looked back again and after a short pause, Machina said while red.

“Licking is out of the questions, but….you can t- touch them for a bit.”

“That’s no good either. A man wants to fondle.”

“F- Fondle, no way!”

“—Then this talk is over.”

“Ehh?”

When I dispatched her calmly, Machina made a surprised expression. But it seems the breasts were no good after all, so she shut her mouth.

Mh, her breasts were certainly charming, but I refused to be her slave after all.

I wouldn’t be tempted. I faced in front and focused on class.

Machina also seemed to have given up, since she didn’t say anything for a while. But not even five minutes had passed, when she stuck her own shoulder against mine.

What was it now? Alerted I looked at her.

“Hey, Nanjou. Become my slave.”

Machina said somewhat sweet.

Mhm~ Just what was she thinking? Why did she want me as her slave so bad? Did she want to force me into submission and control me at school?

Clueless to her goals, I titled my head, when I suddenly made eye-contact with Gogyou-san.

Sitting on the other site of Machine, separated by the passage, Gogyou-san glared at her with a frowning expression. Then she looked meaningful at me and made some kind of signs with gestures. I deciphered her signs and recited it with lip-sync without making a sound.

“Ahhn, Nanjou-kun, my body is so hot I can’t endure it. Hold me.”

….Gogyou-san, so lewd. Doing that during class, how perverted, really.

When I was lost in my own convenient delusion, Gogyou-san got bright red up to her ears and gestured a “No, no!” with her hands. Then she said with lip-sync herself.

“Nanjou-kun, be careful of the transfer student.”

“I don’t really get it, but okay.”

I ended my conversation with Gogyou-san in lip-sync and looked back at Machina.

For some reason Machina asked me with a displeased expression.

“I have a question….”

“The type of girl I want as my girlfriend is a self-sacrificing maid. Too bad, but that doesn’t apply to you.”

“Th- That’s not true! Girls can change for their love—wait, what’s up with that? No one asked about your type of girl!”

BAM. After kicking my shin, Machina glanced over shortly to Gogyou-san and said.

“…Don’t tell me, you’re going out with that girl?”

“No, I’m not.”

Why would she ask that?

When I answered truthfully with my head tilted, Machina made a relieved expression.

“I see, that’s good.”

It was a profound statement.

“….Oh I know, you have fallen for me.”

“I, I’ll send you flying!”

I meant it as a joke, but my shin got kicked again.

* * *

I endured the long classes and the moment the last homeroom ended, I took my bag and stood up. I had decided to drop by Elni’s place after school and check upon Nazuna.

I swiftly left the classroom and walked down the corridor, when

“Wait, Nanjou.”

I was called from behind.

I turned around and there stood the red-haired empress Machina. But

“…I must be imagining things. There isn’t anyone around.”

I pretended not to see her and walked away.

I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and opened the mail that Elni send me yesterday. I checked Elni’s address that was written there, when

“I said wait!”

Along with an angry voice, I was suddenly grabbed at my collar.

With no other choice I turned around. There was Machina glaring at me with red cheeks, due to her anger, and shouting.

“Why are you ignoring me! At least reply to me!”

“…What? I’m busy, you need anything?”

“Why else would I stop you! Yet you ignore me. So rude! Not to forget that you ignored me before and went home!”

“…Before?”

Now that I thought about it, I remember being called out by someone on the day Machina transferred here. But that this someone was Machina came as a surprise to me. I didn’t think she would call out to me, since I had made her angry back then.

“Well, sorry about that.”

“Hmp. Don’t think I’ll be so forgiving next time.”

“Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow then.”

“Yes, see you—-wait, why are you trying to leave! I just told you I want something from you!”

Machina placed a kick into my stomach. The sharp kick piercing into my side really did hurt… well, I did was at fault this time.

“Sorry, just a joke. So, what do you want?”

I asked serious, when Machina arrogantly crossed her arms. Both her arms raised her breasts, which emphasised her big breasts even more.

Maybe Machina noticed my look to her breasts or not, but while bending her breasts she said.

“Nanjou, guide me around town.”

I replied to these words with a smile.

“Farewell.”

“…Eh? No way? Wh- Why? Why are you turning me down? Guide me around!”

She didn’t expect me to turn her down, so Machina spoke agitated and grabbed my arm. I felt a bit sorry for her, but I removed myself from her grab.

Right now I had to hurry to Elni’s place.

“Sorry. I have something to do today, so I can’t. Ask someone else. I believe any guy in class would be happy to guide you around.”

“I hate boys, who don’t have a will of their own and simply do whatever you tell them.”

Now that was unexpected. While I was a bit surprised, Machina added “I hate boys, who don’t listen to me at all, too though” and glared at me. Yeah, what a selfish girl.

“Then ask a girl. You got a bit closer to them, right?”

“…There’s no one I’m close to.”

Machina answered in a quiet voice.

That reminded me, the boys naturally gathered around her, but none of the girls in class came talking to her.

“You don’t have any friends.”

“—!”

When I said that inadvertent in pity, Machina was at a loss for words and tears welled up in her eyes for a moment, but acting tough, she turned to the side.

“I- It’s not like I need friends to begin with or anything!”

Could it be I just confronted Machina with a taboo head on? Machina was trying to act though, but she was strongly grabbing onto the fringe of her clothes and looking really sad.

“….If you want I can show you around town once I finished my stuff. How’s that?”

I felt really guilty, so I kindly suggested that. Then Machina answered while still facing sideways.

“You better be grateful. I’ll come along when it doesn’t take too long.”

She sure couldn’t be honest.

With a wry smile I left school together with Machina and headed for Elni’s place.

It seemed that Elni’s house was near the parched river bed. While walking besides Machina, I walked towards the address that Elni wrote in her mail….We then reached the bottom of the bridge over the river bed. Below the bridge a big, yellow tent was set up and had written “Elni’s house” on it with bold black letters…..For real?

Beside the tent stood a red mail box. Was this, well, a gag? For a while I stood totally dumbfounded in front of the tent.

“What’s this? Such a poor house.”

Machina’s cold statement brought me back to my senses.

I was sure that Elni had her reasons for living here.

Regaining my spirit, I approached the tent….but I didn’t sense any presence in there. I once called out Elni’s name, then proclaimed “I’m coming in” and looked into the tent.

The inside of the tent was more spacious than I thought. It was around four and a half tatami mats big. There wasn’t much space, but there was a bookshelf, a sofa and even a fishing rod, a first-aid kit and a bear plush toy.

And like I had expected, the two mattresses in the middle of the tent were empty.

It seemed that Elni and Nazuna went out.

Where did they go? I pondered with my arms crossed, when Machina called out to me with a “Hey”.

“You aren’t going to claim at your age that this is your ‘secret base’ and you came here to play, are you?”

“No, this isn’t my secret base. Mine is on the mountain.”

When I replied that to the bewildered Machina, she looked at me like I was an idiot.

“What? You’re still playing at a secret base at your age?”

“Anything more is classified.”

I answered with a cool smile, but Machina was still looking at me with a weary expression.

Well, normally I would toy with her, but I didn’t pay it any mind.

In the past I build a secret base half for fun, but now it was an important training spot. Not showing it to anyone and training my body there, I treasured it a lot.

While gazing at the yellow tent, I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and called Elni. But it didn’t connect and I only get the answering machine.

I had no choice but to hang up. Then I faced Machina.

“Sorry, but we’re going to the station. Follow me!”

“Eh, so arrogant.”

I took the weary Machina and headed for the station in the shopping district. Then we walked around the station searching for Elni and Nazuna, when I heard a guitar. After that a bright singing voice reached my ears.

I had heard that singing voice before.

I perked my ears and walked towards the voice. There I saw a crowd.

I approached the crowd and peeking through the gaps I took a look at the people performing…. It were Elni and Nazuna.

Elni was playing a bright red acoustic guitar with her silver twin tails swinging around.

Nazuna was moving her body in rhythm to Elni and singing brightly.

Everyone in the watching crowd was smiling and some were starting so say “So cute”.

Strangely enough, the two of them looked sparkling and were just like idols.

Actually, Elni could play a guitar, huh.

While I was surprised by her skill, the song ended.

I wanted to hear more, but Nazuna bowed down once and signalized the end of the performance.

I was really disappointed, when suddenly a loud applause emerged.

When I looked around, the people, who had listened to the song, cheered and giving a grand applause.

I took out my wallet and while Elni and Nazuna were talking to the spectators, I threw a 500 yen coin in Elni’s guitar case that was on the ground.

Upon that the other spectators followed my suit and threw money into Elni’s guitar case. Amidst the clinking of small coins, there were a flew flapping of banknotes. Elni had bewildered expression and pinched her own cheek in disbelief over the amount of money collecting in the guitar case. Then

“Hamburger! Spaghetti! Fried Potato!”

While shouting the names of food, she hugged onto Nazuna.

Nazuna returned her hug and laughed happily.

Looks like these two were doing fine.

Nazuna was looking happy as well, so just like my mother had said, it was better to just watch the situation for now. She really might have just needed time to sort out her feelings.

Somewhat sad, I pulled out my cell phone and started to write a new mail.

“Elni, I leave Nazuna to you. Protect her from all kinds of enemies, Mad Dog—”

A sent this instruction mail, then looked besides me….Machina pulled out her wallet from her pocket and threw a coin into Elni’s guitar case.

“….You’re surprisingly kind.”

When I said so slightly surprised, Machina turned red, probably out of shame, and faced sideways.

“I just made a little mistake.”

“No, how can you make such a mistake?”

Inadvertently I made a wry smile, when Machina kicked my shin this time, definitely out of shame.

What an interesting girl. I then once again looked at Nazuna, before shifting my gaze back to Machina.

…Okay, my business was done, so I better show Machina around now like I promised.

“Okay, let’s go. We’re already at the shopping district, so I’ll show you around here today.”

I said so while turning on my heels, when Machina lined up besides me and asked surprised.

“Hey, you aren’t going to talk with them? That cute—COUGH”

Concealing her slip-up with a cough, Machina continued.

“That girl besides the one with the hoodie, is your little sister, right? Didn’t you come all the way here to meet her?”

“Well, yeah….it’s a bit complicated.”

Then I told Machina about Luna and Nazuna. That Nazuna left the house after a fight with Luna. That she was currently staying with Elni. And that I came to check up on her, since I was worried.

By the way, I introduced Luna as an exchange student that was doing a home stay at our house.

The home stay was a big lie, but it worked on the surface.

When Luna came to school before, my classmates asked me a lot of questions, but when I later said she was an exchange student, they all accepted it.

Actually I wanted to introduce her as part of my family, but that seemed to be easily misunderstood, so I refrained from it.

—Luna was a devil. She came from the demon realm to the human world, where she didn’t know anyone. She must have been lonely without doubt. And because of the barrier of the human world, old man Bram couldn’t come over here all that often.

That was why we had to become Luna’s family.

So far Luna had been betrayed and hurt by a lot of people.

And every time she was crying, so I decided to make her happy. I swore not to let her feel sad again….

This morning, Luna couldn’t hide her shock when she realized that Nazuna didn’t come home.

Spaced out, she had poured soy sauce over her eggs until it spilt from the plate. Then she put the eggs into her mouth and was surprised with a “Hyaa”.

I’ll have to tend her too, when I get home.

I thought that, when

“Hey, Nanjou, did you… do it with that exchange student yet?”

“PFT!”

Machina suddenly asked an unbelievable question, so I snorted inadvertent.

“D- Don’t be stupid. I haven’t done anything.”

“Really?”

“Why are you doubting me? I’m a gentleman, you know?”

“But your sister called you a failure as a gentleman.”

“Ugh…”

Right. I already had completely stopped being a gentleman.

Machina didn’t pay any mind to my shock and continued while looking at me doubtful.

“Besides, the boys in class call you the ‘Demon Lord that trained the blonde exchange student into a slave called maid’, you know?”

“…For real? What the? They didn’t come to terms with it?”

Surprised by my classmates’ words, Machina looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“Hey, what’s with that look? Do you believe this baseless rumour? Look into my eyes! Are these pure eyes the eyes of someone that trains people?”

“…Not only are don’t look they pure at all, but they more look like the eyes of a rotten fish. But oh well.”

After I was stared at by these amber eyes, I asked, when Machina said something incredible rude and nodded. Actually, before I was told I had rocking eyes. Calling them eyes of a rotten fish now was too cruel. While becoming depressed inside, I was indecisive on where to guide Machina.

“So, where are you taking me?”

Machina lined up besides me and asked.

“Mhm~ Is there any place you want to go to?”

I answered the question with a question, when Machina gave me the short answer “Somewhere fun”.

Mhm, somewhere fun. If possible I wanted a place that didn’t require money.

I took out my wallet and checked the contents. There I spotted the business card of the sexy lottery miss that I got yesterday.

I turned around the car mindless, where the address of a cabaret club was written.

“Okay, let’s go to a cabaret. Let’s drink through the night. What do you drink?”

“Maybe I should get a cocktail—wait, why a cabaret! That’s not a place where you take a girl to! To begin with, you’re still a minor! And what’s with that business card!”

“…You have an unexpected talent for playing along and then setting it straight.”

I felt happy that she reacted like I hoped, so I praised her. But Machina wasn’t playing along, but just getting tricked into it, so once again she angrily kicked my shin.

If she didn’t give it a rest soon, my shin would start to get bruises.

I stopped teasing Machina and just guided her around normally.

A bookstore, a supermarket, a karaoke box, a movie theatre, a store for western clothes and a well-known family restaurant.

We walked with no real goal, when Machina suddenly stopped. I followed Machina’s look and saw a game center.

“What’s that?”

“A game center. There are various games in there. Asada comes here often to play strip mahjong.”

“Who’s Asada?”

“You know that one pervert in our class? That’s him.”

“Yeah, that guy with only the good face.”

Strangely enough, she understood just by saying pervert.

I felt a bit sorry for Asada and said while pointing to the game center.

“Since we’re here, want to go inside? It’s a bit loud inside though, can you manage that?”

“Hee. So you can be considerate after all.”

Machina said the rude “What a surprise” in awe while entering the game center.

Inside Machina watched around unusually agitated, then she curiously took looks at various games.

“You behave like someone from the country-side. Don’t they have this stuff overseas?”

I said teasingly, but Machina didn’t get angry like usually.

She probably didn’t hear me, as looked around all excited.

“Nanjou, I want to play this.”

She stopped in front of the crane game and pointed at it.

The inside of the transparent glass case was filled with all kinds of adorable animal plush toys.

She probably wanted one. That was unexpected.

“Nanjou, put in some money.”

Suddenly Machina said so mandatory.

Why did I have to pay? I was sceptic, but Machina looked so happy that I just sighed and pulled out my wallet. I put the coin into the crane game. Then the game started and Machina operated it to get a tiger plush toy—but couldn’t get it. Not at all. Hopeless.

“…You totally suck.”

“Sh- Shut up! It’s my first time, so I can’t help it!”

Saying that, Machina made a regretful expression while looking at the plush toy in the glass case.

“Why can’t I get it…”

I turned to the voice. Machina was glaring at the crane game that wasn’t going like she wanted it to, but there were small tears welling up in her eyes.

I felt a bit sorry for her, so after I made a wry smile, I opened my mouth to give her some advice.

“You know, from what I heard, instead of clumsily going for what you want, it’s better to start with some easier catches.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. So why don’t you go after the cow one there?”

When I said so, Machina nodded surprisingly honestly and moved the crane. She got the cow plush toy quite easily.

“….I got it.”

After leaking a surprised voice, Machina turned around and asked with sparkles in her eyes.

“Hey, Nanjou, which one should I get next?”

“Eh?”

Unconsciously I was charmed by Machina’s happy face for a moment and gave a dreamily reply. Upon that Machina made a sulking expression and said.

“What? Don’t be a meanie and tell me.”

“O- Okay.”

Still taken aback, I nodded and put my hand on my chin with a “Let’s see”. I looked into the glass case.

“….Next is, doesn’t that sheep over there look good?”

“Sheep it is.”

Machina nodded honestly again and operated the crane. The crane followed Machina’s instruction and caught the sheep plush toy perfectly.

“…I got it again. You’re amazing, Nanjou.”

“Y- Yeah? You’re pretty good yourself.”

While answering, I averted my gaze from the happily smiling Machina.

When she behaved so honestly like that, I went somehow insane.

But well, seeing that side of hers wasn’t too bad.

Such thoughts crossed my mind while I turned my gaze back to Machina, who operated the crane game with a serious expression.

…And at the end of a fierce battle, Machina succeeded in getting the tiger plush toy she wanted. On the way to get the tiger, she also got others like a cow or a dog, so I actually ended up spending quite some money.

But when Machina caught the tiger, she made a truly happy expression.

So it was okay.

We got a paper bag from the store clerk, so the plush toys went in there and Machina and me left the game center.

Machina walked while happily hugging onto the paper bag with the plush toys, when she suddenly stopped and glanced at me.

“Mh? What’s up?”

When I called out to her, Machina turned slightly red and said while facing to the side.

“…Th- Thanks.”

I widened my eyes in surprise on these words of gratitude, when Machina took out a wolf plush toy out of the paper bag at her chest with still flustered cheeks from embarrassment. Then she presented it to me.

“I got the plush toys with your help, so, well… as… as thanks….”

“M- Mhm, thanks….”

While saying my thanks, I took the plush toy, when Machina smiled.

“That plush toy looks like you.”

I was about to lose myself in her smile, so I hastily turned away from Machina.

I had never expected her to thank me so honestly. I put the wolf plush toy into my bag and was a bit confused—when I suddenly heard a sobbing voice.

Concerned I turned to the voice, when I saw a girl crying with a quiet voice. She was around five years old. Big tears flowed out of her big eyes. But the girl didn’t cry louder, nor did she cry for help. After wiping away her tears, she looked around worried and uneasy and was about to move on alone.

I was concerned, so I wanted to call out to her, but Machina approached the girl faster than me and called out to her with a “Hey, wait a moment”.

The girl turned around, looked at Machina and made a somewhat frightened expression. Certainly, Machina’s overwhelming look could be scary.

But Machina paid it no mind and squatted down to the girl’s eye level.

“Why are you crying? What’s the matter?”

She said it in a blunt tone without a shred of kindness, but the girl answered quietly after staring at Machina.

“…You know, I lost my big sister.”

Along with her answer, the girl started to cry loud, which she had hold back so far. Machina extremely panicked on that.

“Hey, don’t cry. E- Ehm, here.”

Still panicked, Machina pulled out a plush toy from the paper bag at her chest and held it up in front of the girl’s face. The plush toy peeked the girl’s interest. She stopped crying and gazed at the plush toy.

“Choose whatever you want from these. I’ll give it to you. So stop crying.”

The girl nodded obediently on Machina’s words, peeked into the paper bag, took out the tiger plush toy and said.

“I want the tiger.”

Upon that Machina showed a shocked expression, but

“O- Okay.”

with a compelled expression, she gave the tiger plush toy to the girl. But I was sure she wanted it for herself. She made a complex expression when the girl hugged onto the plush toy. That scene was somewhat heart-warming, so a smile formed naturally on my face.

Then I approached Machina and the girl, squatted down and said.

“So, you got separated from your big sister?”

I tried to ask as kindly as possible, when the girl nodded while still hugging onto the tiger plush toy.

“Okay. Then putting this girl’s life at stake, I’ll try to find your sister.”

I said so while pointing at Machina, when she immediately got angry with a “Put your own life at stake!”.

But the girl asked worried while looking at me with her big eyes.

“…Can you find her?”

“No problem. Leave it to me. I’ll find your sister even if it costs the life of this girl.”

“I just told you to risk your own life!”

Machina got angry again. Sorry, but I ignored her and looked at the girl.

“Okay, let’s look for her together.”

“Yeah.”

I held out my hand and the girl grabbed on it. Then after she looked shyly at Machina,

“Miss, are you going to look for my sister too?”

she asked.

Upon that Machina patted the girl’s head and answered.

“You would be helpless, so I’ll come along. But I’m busy, so let’s hurry.”

Machina answered blunt, but the girl was no longer scared. She grabbed Machina’s hand and started walking.

Then I asked the girl how her sister looked like. After that I named myself and asked for her name. The girl answered “Haru-chan” with a smile.

Together with Haru-chan, we then started to look for her sister. At a nearby park we found a girl looking for someone while shouting “Haruna-chan~ Haruna-chan~” in a loud voice.

That girl clad in a school uniform was apparently Haru-chan’s big sister. When we brought over Haru-chan, her sister thanked us endlessly and tightly embraced Haru-chan. The embraced Haru-chan happily accepted the hug from her sister.

“Yeah, it’s good when two sisters get along.”

I mumbled when seeing the heart-warming scene of the sisters, and remembered about Luna and Nazuna.

“Luna and Nazuna are as close as sisters, so I hope they make up soon….”

I mumbled to myself, when

“…like sisters?”

suddenly a voice filled with anger came out of Machina’s mouth.

“What are you saying? Your little sister and… that exchange student are strangers, right? Strangers will always be strangers. Calling them like sisters is stupid.”

Machina said while glaring at me… What was up?

She also looked close to tears, so I couldn’t say anything back.

While I was confused, Machina averted her gaze from me unsatisfied, then faced her back to me and walked away. I hastily followed after her, but at a loss for words, I walked at a set distance behind Machina. Then Machina suddenly stopped and said.

“…Nanjou, I’m thirsty.”

“Yeah, me too. You go buy some juice at that vending machine there.”

“Oh, how convenient that there’s one so close by. What flavour do you want? —-wait, that’s not how it goes! You go buy it! You!”

When she turned around, Machina still angrily said “At least read the atmosphere! Idiot!”, but her teary expression from earlier was gone.

Good. I made a sigh of relief in my chest while laughing a “Sorry, sorry”. I bought juice from the nearby vending machine and returned to Machina. Machina was sitting on a bench and waiting for me with her arms crossed like a queen. I approached her and handed her the juice with a smile.

“Here’s your sweet bean soup juice.”

“Yes, thank you—-wait, I don’t want that!”

“No, just a joke. I have apple and orange juice. Which do you want?”

“Give me the orange one.”

Regardless of her request, I silently handed her the apple juice.

“…Hey, I said the orange one.”

“Actually, I wanted the orange one.”

“Then buy two orange ones! Idiot!”

She said angrily, then snatched the orange juice from my hand.

She was really interesting when teased. While squinting, I pulled open the latch of the canned juice and poured the juice into my mouth.

“….Hey, how do I drink this?”

“Are you actually a rich lady?”

With a wry smile, I took the juice from Machina and when I opened the latch, Machina made a surprised expression like she just had seen a well-made magic trick.

Really, maybe she was a rich lady?

It was my first time seeing someone, who didn’t know how to open a canned juice—Not. Luna didn’t know how to either.

Machina looked curiously at the canned juice and mimicked me by pouring the juice into her mouth. Then she smiled.

While looking at her, I remembered the girl from earlier, Haru-chan.

I noticed that Haru-chan had taken quite the liking to Machina.

“Mh? What?”

Apparently she noticed my look. Machina faced my way.

While avoiding the overwhelming look from her amber eyes, I opened my mouth.

“No, I was just a bit surprised.”

“Surprised?”

“Yeah. You’re quite kind to kids.”

When I said that, Machina turned a bit red and looked away.

“Right back at you. Even though you have this grim look, you can handle kids surprisingly well.”

“Because I have a little sister. I don’t know why, but in the past she introduced her friends to me and we played together. Guess it comes from that.”

“Hee. That certainly is surprising. Even though you look like a guy that would trash a child for no reason.”

What a cruel statement.

I was pretty bothered by my grim look. So I would like not to be reminded of it.

I was a bit hurt, but it was about Machina now.

To be honest, the image I had of her changed.

“When that girl was crying, you went to her straight. I think that’s pretty amazing. There a lot of people who would just think it’s a bother or someone else will deal with it.”

In fact, there were numerous adults, who just went by when they saw Haru-chan cry. And that Machina of all these people, went to call out to Haru-chan without hesitation was a real surprise.

I had indented to honestly praise her, but Machina said while still facing sideways.

“…It’s only normal to help a crying, little girl.”

Machina continued in a serious tone.

“Not helping then would be more strange, wouldn’t it? There might people who consider it a pain or annoyance…. But I don’t want to become like that.”

I inadvertent widened my eyes.

I always thought she was a selfish girl, but she had such a gentle side to her too.

“Sorry.”

Before I noticed it, a word of apology had left my mouth.

“I only thought you were a selfish girl. A rich lady that lived doing whatever she wanted….”

But I might have been wrong.

“Well, I don’t know the truth, but I misunderstood you. So… I’m sorry.”

When I lowered my head, made a face like she saw a ghost, but then said “It’s fine” mixed together with a sigh.

“I’m used to being misunderstood.”

Machina continued by mumbling a “It’s just”.

“I’m not a rich lady. That at least know.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Sure, my father is well off, but I’m…. a failure.”

—-A failure.

On these words I felt a slight pain in my chest.

For one reason because Machina was smiling sadly, but that wasn’t all.

A failure. This word that I had started to forget echoed in my head.

“You have been called that by someone?”

I asked in a somewhat stiff tone, when Machina widened her eyes as I had the bullseye. Then

“Wh- Why would you think so?”

Her eyes alarmingly stared at me.

I answered with a smile.

“Because I have been called one too.”

For a second, Machina’s eyes fidgeted.

I went on with a wry smile.

“For generations my family has done old martial arts. But compared to my grandfather or father, I have absolutely no talent for it. Some relatives often told me I’m a ‘failure’.”

When I had to inherit the dojo, because my father didn’t want to, those around me had high expectations of me. But when they got to know that I hadn’t the slightest talent for martial arts, even those who treated me kindly before, turned her back to me.

“My grandfather and father didn’t call me a failure. Though they told me that I’m not suited for martial arts. And they advised me to give up on it.”

Looking thoughtful up the sky, I continued.

“Well, in fact it wasn’t just my relatives, but even people from the dojo called me a ‘failure’ and bullied me. In the end, I temporarily stopped going to the dojo.”

I still could bear with being called a failure by someone close to my age. But I would never forget the words of the adults that called me a failure and looked at me with pity.

That was why I always had a kind of inferior complex.

“But after two years, I returned to the dojo. My family tried to stop me and for a while I was bullied again, but…”

I didn’t throw in the towel again. No matter how often I lost, I trained and trained and trained. Therefore

“I became so strong to submit those who called me a failure. Well, due to some circumstances, I went astray though.”

When I ended my story with a smile, Machina tightly clenched her fists and said.

“….How?”

She looked at me incomprehensible.

“How could you do that? You were taken for a fool when you returned, weren’t you? Yet how could you continue?”

The answer was simple.

“Because I had someone I wanted to protect.”

I didn’t care about my inferior complex. I also closed my ears to the voices around me. I just thought of protecting. Thought of becoming stronger.

Because of old man Bram’s meddling with my memories, most of them were gone, but somewhere in the corner of my heart, I always held on the strong feeling of wanting to protect.

Because I had that, I could continue to run.

I could stand up again, whatever painful stuff happened.

—-Because I wanted to protect Luna, I became strong.

All in all, I would have rotten if it weren’t for Luna.

Because I met Luna as a kid, I was now here like this.

So I could say with confidence.

“The feeling of wanting to protect a precious person is… so mysterious. It makes you bear with anything.”

I said with a smile, when Machina’s eyes flickered.

Out of surprise, confusion and envious? After that Machine drooped.

And without saying anything, she continued to stare at the ground.

…After a long silence, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Hey, can I asked something?”

It was something that had always bothered me.

“Why do you want me to make your slave?”

She seemed to be quite obsessed with making me her slave, but I didn’t know why.

So far I only thought of it as her self-indulgence. But there might actually be some reasons behind it. I asked with that in mind.

“…I have to act before it’s too late.”

I could not comprehend the words that mumbling left Machina’s mouth.

And while she said that, Machina was close to tears again.

I had no words to reply and just looked at her.

Then Machina stood up from the bench at looked at me glaringly.

“Nanjou, this is the last time. Become my slave. Obey me.”

Along with her words, Machina approached me and captured me with her amber eyes.

Her amber eyes took a hold of me like they had the power of attraction and strangely enough I couldn’t avert my gaze. She continued to look at me and in time my consciousness started to become dizzy. Then a sweet something entered my head and an ecstasy that melted my brain befell me.

That feeling might be similar t o a concussion. If I were to submit to it, it would become so easy.

But I shook off the sweet temptation and rebelled against it.

I took a deep breath and spit it out, which cleared my consciousness. Then I reached out my hand

“When you keep saying that, we can never become friends, you know?”

and lightly chopped Machina’s head.

“H- Hey. Why?”

Machina was somewhat confused, but I let another chop fell onto her head and said.

“I pass on being your slave, but I can become your friend. What do you say?”

When I asked, Machina was surprised and while turning red… she looked away.

“…And here I warned you. idiot.”

She mumbled quietly, then turned around and walked away.

It seemed like I was dumped.

But I had no intention of giving up.

I kept watching Machina’s back, when she suddenly turned around. At that time, she made a teary expression. And with that expression—

“Nanjou, don’t forget what I said earlier.”

“…What you said earlier?”

I tilted my head.

“You became strong to protect someone precious, right?”

Machina said reminding.

“So, whatever happens, protect her.”

Saying just that, Machina once again turned around and walked away.

I called “See you tomorrow” after her, but there was no reply.

I scratched my head and made a small sigh.

“…Guess I’ll go home too.”

With that dizziness from earlier, I would better go to bed early today.

I was also worried about Luna, who was depressed over Nazuna leaving the house.

Wanting to cheer her up, I hurried home.

* * *

I walked the dawn-lit street and arrived back home. Right in front of our gate, I met my mother wearing a travel bag over her shoulder for some reason.

“Oh my, welcome home, Shinobu.”

My mother noticed me and called out. I raised my hand and replied.

“Yo, I made it home safely again today. As a reward, hand over that bag.”

While saying that, I extended my hand towards the bag. My mother answered with a wry smile.

“You don’t need to send me off. It’s not that heavy, so I can carry it myself.”

Mh, the bag looked heavy, so I wanted to carry it for her, but….

“You’re as powerful as ever, Mom. Like a gorilla.”

“Who are you calling a gorilla! And you’re as dishonest as ever. Why can’t you honestly say ‘I’ll carry your bag for you’?”

“Sorry, I’m the type of guy, who can only be honest in bed.”

“Mhm~ Just like me.”

I said it as a casual joke, but I got an unbelievable reply.

Inadvertent I spit out a “Pft!” and looked at my mother surprised. Then my mother pointed at me and said “This idiot is shocked.” giggling.

…Mh, this was my loss. Actually, I never won against my mother so far.

I sighed inside my chest, and looked at my mother again.

“So, you’re going somewhere?”

“Yes. I’m going out for a bit. I think I’ll be back in a week… Well, there’s still Luna-chan, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

My mother answered while knocking on the travel bag over her shoulder.

“A week, huh? Where are you going?”

“S.e.c.r.e.t.”

When I asked, my mother put her index finger close to her mouth and answered with a playful smile. Then she laughed for some reason, put her arm around my shoulder and whispered into my ear.

“…Shinobu, tonight you’ll be all alone with Luna-chan.”

For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, then as she might have noticed it or not, my mother continued teasingly.

“You can’t force yourself on her, you hear? Because Luna-chan would hate you for it. So be careful.”

“Sh- Shut up, idiot. There’s no way I would feel like doing that when Nazuna is away from home.”

I answered agitated, when my mother strangely laughed a “Fufu”.

“You’re as sweet as ever to Nazuna, Dear Brother.”

My mother extended her hand towards my head and started to gentle pat it.

“It’s okay. Nazuna isn’t so much a kid as you believe her to be. She can sort out her feelings by herself. She’ll be back eventually…So be at ease and wait for her.”

My mother continued with a smile.

“You know it, right? That Nazuna is stronger than she looks. So she can deal with a pervert on her own. Besides, she’s with a friend of yours, right? There’s nothing to worry about.”

She certainly might have a point there.

Just like our father, Nazuna was quite athletic and had more talent for martial arts than me. She wouldn’t even lose to the upperclassmen boys in her karate club. But

“…She might be crying again.”

Nazuna was mentally weak. That was what I was worried about.

“Shinobu.”

When I raised my head, my mother made a serious expression.

“It’s important to make own decisions. Kindness isn’t just sheltering someone. I know you’re worried, but you can’t spoil her now.”

….Right. It was like my mother said. Just spoiling a person might disturb his growth.

I understood that. I did, but….it was difficult. I understood the theory, but my feelings couldn’t keep up with it.

But I somehow had to arrange these two.

With a sigh, I nodded an “Okay”, when my mother smiled satisfied.

“Then hurry up inside. Luna-chan seems down, so go comfort her.”

“…Comfort, that sounds kinda erotic.”

When I replied as such, my mother giggled. I thought for sure that she would reply “No one asked you to comfort her body!” in anger, but she just gentle poked my cheek with her index finger.

“Girls get weak when you treat them nicely in depressed times… you know?”

She said profound.

“When Luna-chan gives the okay, you can do it, but be a man and take responsibility. Got that?”

“Nah, I don’t. I don’t get it at all. I have no clue at all. I don’t even know who you are.”

“Fufu. You’re such a shy boy.”

After patting my head once again, my mother turn around with a “I’m off”.

I saw my mother off and headed for the front door. With a CLACK I opened the door, when Luna came hastily sprinting out of the living room.

But when she realized it was me, she made a slightly disappointed expression.

I was sure she was waiting for Nazuna. I said with a wry smile.

“I’m home. Sorry that I’m not Nazuna.”

Upon that Luna hastily shook her hands.

“No, no! I’m happy that you’re back, Shinobu-san!”

“Really? It’s suspicious how your voice is so flustered. Actually you thought ‘Why isn’t it Nazuna. You go back to your mountain.’, didn’t you….”

I could tell this joke, since I was 100% sure that Luna wouldn’t never think that.

“I, I did not think that! I’m always looking forward to you coming home, so I always wait in the living room at six, so that I can greet you immediately—-”

Luna desperately explained in a hurry, when she suddenly fell silent and then said “…F- Forget about that.” while turning red.

I had no clue what was going on, but I understood well that Luna was waiting for my return every day.

Unlike in the demon realm, she had no friends here and must be lonely.

“Well, don’t be so down. You’ll make some friends soon.”

“Eh? What do you mean, Shinobu-san?”

“Mh? You waited for me to play with you, since you were lonely without friends, right? I barely have any friends, too. So I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

I encouraging said to the surprised Luna. Then Luna made a complex expression for some reason.

“U- Uhm, well, it’s not like that…”

“Eh? Then what is it like?”

I asked, when Luna turned bright red and started to mumbled “Th- That’s, well, I love…”, but I couldn’t hear it well. Then after Luna glanced around with still red cheeks,

“No, it’s nothing.”

and drooped. Then while still looking down, she mumbled a “I have no courage”. What did she mean?

With my head tilted, I entered the living room together with Luna. I noticed that the game console was on the table. When I looked at the TV, the screen showed a “Game Over” in red letters and a cat wearing a red headband lay in the right bottom corner of the screen, spitting blood.

“…Could it be you were playing, Luna? Actually, you knew how?”

I asked surprised, when Luna answered with a wry smile.

“It seems I deleted Nazuna-chan’s game, so I asked Tomoe-san to teach me how to play it. I thought that when I return the game to what it was, Nazuna-chan would be happy when she comes out…”

Meanwhile Luna started to have a sad expression.

“But it is no good. No matter how often I try, I can’t clear it.”

She dropped her shoulders and looked down.

“I’m at fault after all. I ruined the game that Nazuna-chan worked so hard on to clear. That’s why…it’s only natural that Nazuna-chan is angry.”

Luna said sadly and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Yet I got angry and said something horrible to Nazuna-chan. Nazuna-chan might hate me now. That’s why she isn’t coming h—”

“That’s not it.”

I didn’t let her finish and opened my mouth.

“Fighting, then hating and saying farewell…. That’s not it, isn’t it? Your relationship isn’t that shallow.”

There was no way that Nazuna would hate Luna for something like that. Because I knew that, I could say with confidence.

“You just have to make up after a fight. I’m sure, Nazuna feels the same as you. She also wants to make up. So don’t make such a face.”

I softly placed my hand on Luna’s cheek and smiled at her.

Then Luna’s eyes got wet and she was about to cry.

“Yes. Thank you, Shinobu-san.”

Smiling, she entrusted her cheek into my palm. Then she placed her own hand on top of mine and closed her eyes.

“Your hand is so warm, Shinobu-san.”

Luna spoke in a relieved voice, but as pathetic as it was, I was frigging nervous.

I had placed my hand on her cheek without any thought, but this wasn’t good.

Her cheek was squishy as a marshmallow. And her small hand was soft and warm.

These two sensations sandwiched my left hand, while her blonde hair tickled the back of my hand. A sweet fragrance came from Luna.

Luna, totally defenceless, looked so pleased while she entrusted her cheek to my hand and my heartbeat rose up uncontrollably. Looking at her well-formed pink lips wasn’t an option either.

I completely froze up. Until Luna let go off my hand, I just stood there.

Then Luna probably noticed me freezing up.

“I, I’m sorry for acting so spoiled.”

She lowered her head with an embarrassed expression.

Wow, not good, not good.

Unlike Nazuna, Luna rarely acted spoiled. So I wished you would at least act spoiled at a time like this. Actually, I wanted her to act more spoiled in general.

“Luna.”

I reached out my hand to Luna’s head and patted it lightly while saying.

“It’s okay to act spoiled. You’re already part of our family. So don’t show any reservation. You can act even more spoiled with me, you know?”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yeah. No matter how spoiled you act, I won’t be troubled. You can be spoiled by me like Nazuna.”

Luna asked me shyly and I answered outright.

I was bad at honestly expressing my own feelings and it was embarrassing. But there were things you had to put into words. So even if I was bad at it or it was embarrassing, I couldn’t run away from it.

Though I couldn’t say it to Luna’s face and had faced sideways… Well, this was fair enough, wasn’t it? I asked that myself.

“Ohh?”

Suddenly a pleasure attack on my body. Two soft sensations. Warm arms that embraced my back. A sweet fragrance tickling my nose.

“L- Luna?”

I looked down, where Luna was happily hugging onto me.

“Wha? Eh? Wh- What’s up so suddenly?”

I couldn’t hide my agitation in my voice. But Luna paid it no mind, hugged onto me even more tightly and answered.

“Actually I was always envious how Nazuna-chan hugged onto you like this.”

Because she said that while hugging tightly onto me, Luna’s big breasts that were pressing onto my body were changing shape. BOING BOING. The breasts wouldn’t cease their attack on my body.

Luna didn’t notice how I desperately clung to my reasoning. She slowly raised her head and said while looking at me with a delightful expression.

“From now on I’ll hug you like this.”

“N- No, that’s a bit…”

I temporarily lost my reasoning upon her happy smile, but hastily warned her with a “You can’t”. But

“….I cannot?”

A plea with puppy eyes from below.

“Y- You can, but when you do, I’ll hug you back in retaliation, you know?”

Before I noticed, I had given her an approval.

Luna smiled on my words. Then she let go off me and spread both her arms while still smiling. She was probably telling me “You can hug me”. But that was way too embarrassing, so I averted my gaze and tried to pass by Luna.

But I heard a “Shinobu-san” and this time was hugged from behind.

….Could it be that I had awakened the ultimate weapon?

The two soft and elastic big swellings pressed onto my back and my reasoning was already in danger. But I had to endure this.

“—!”

Suddenly I felt a sharp bloodlust and turned around in a haste. By doing so I made eye contact with the smiling Luna, who had clung to my back. Looking at Luna so closely, her pretty doubled eyebrows were long and the form and shape of her lips were really pretty—-wait, this wasn’t the time to get charmed by that.

I ran to the window and looked around the garden…. but there was no one.

But I still felt a bad chill on my neck.

Just when the wind ran through the trees, the bad chill was gone.

Seemed it hadn’t a deliberately cause.

I sighed in relief while I pondering.

At first I believed the gaze to be just my imagination, but at this point it couldn’t really be an imagination anymore. I didn’t know of the owner of that gaze was a stalker or something, but it never hurt to be alerted. Thinking that, I closed the curtains on the window.

“…Shinobu-san, is something the matter?”

I turned around to the voice, when Luna had her head tilted strangely.

I thought it might only worry here, so I kept quiet about the stalker stuff and merely told her to properly lock the door. Then I sat down on the couch.

I casually took out my cell phone and saw that I got a mail.

When I opened the mail, it was a reliable reply from Elni saying “Mad Dog understands! I’ll protect Nazucat! Garrr!”.

Relieved, I watched TV in the living room, then ate dinner together with Luna.

“…It is a bit lonely.”

Luna sitting at the table said so lonely.

Certainly, with my mother and Nazuna gone it was a different atmosphere.

“Well, the two of them will be back soon.”

I tried to say it as bright as possible, then took the hamburger steak side-dish with my chopsticks and put it into my mouth. While chewing, the deliciousness of the flesh and the meat juice spread in my mouth. The slowly fading flavour was regrettably rich.

“It’s delicious.”

“Really?”

I nodded a “Yeah” to the happy Luna and broke off mouthful piece from my hamburger steak. Then I grabbed that piece with my chopsticks and held it in front of Luna’s mouth with a “Here”.

“Eh? Sh- Shinobu-san?”

“Ah~”

This was payback for the hug from earlier.

I said teasingly, when Luna turned red and closed her eyes. Then she opened her well-formed pink lips with an “Ah~”.

Yeah, that was extremely hot. For some reason I got all excited and put the hamburger steak into her mouth, when Luna smiled satisfied, which only made me more excited.

Wh- Why was I this embarrassed?

I had intended to tease her, yet how did it turn out like this?

I wouldn’t let it end like this. This time I grabbed a carrot with my chopsticks and presented it to Luna again with an “Ah~”.

Luna looked embarrassed, but without resisting, she ate all of my carrots. Then she smiled in a good mood.

Mhm. Luna was pleased and I got rid of my hated carrots.

Two birds with one stone. I nodded firmly in my head.

But then Luna happily grabbed her own carrots with her chopsticks and held them out to me.

“Shinobu-san, say Ah~.”

….I had no choice but to eat them.

Like that we finished dinner and after taking my bath, I returned to my own room and decided to go to sleep early. Maybe due to my lack of sleep, I immediately fell asleep when I lay down on the bed….

Share