Published at 31st of August 2019 11:43 am

Volume 6, Chapter 02: Want you to notice, want you to look…

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

The morning of the day for seaside school that Nazuna looked forward to so much. Sent off by Luna, Elni and also my mother, I left the house and walked under the cloudless blue sky with Machina and Nazuna.

Nazuna was brimming with excitement for the seaside school. She was even more hyper than usual, but in contrast, Machina next to me was rather calm and looked quite sleepy.

“Oh? You didn’t get any sleep last night because you were so excited?”

When I asked her teasingly, Machina rubbed her eyes and nodded lightly.

“It’s my first time going to a seaside school, so I couldn’t sleep due to the anticipation— as if! It’s Elni’s fault for inviting me to watch a midnight anime with her!”

Halfway in her sentence her cheeks turned bright red and Machina denied with a loud voice.

Most likely Elni, who shared a room with Machina, invited her to get her distracted, since she no longer could watch Machina be all excited.

According to Machina, Elni snuck into Machina’s bed once the anime was over…but Elni might have been a bit lonely, just like Luna.

Elni also often snuck into my bed when I was sleeping. Despite her behaviour, she surprising got lonely easily. I should call Luna and Elni tonight…

When I was thinking like that, Nazuna, who had listened to Machina’s story, said envious.

“Lucky El-chan…. I sometimes sleep together with Luna-oneechan, but I also want to sleep together with Machina-chan.”

“I also want to sleep together with Shinobu or you, Nazuna-chan— only kidding! Ac- Actually I don’t want to, since it’s hot… but well, we have air condition, so come over whenever you want. Then we’ll sleep together.”

“Yay~ Thanks, Machina-chan!”

“Yes, you’re welcome.”

Machina replied by showing Nazuna, who had happily clung to her, a smile.

…Though if Nazuna were to come to Machina’s room with a pillow, Elni might also want to sleep with Machina then.

I pictured Machina groaning a “Hot…” while she was being sandwiched by Nazuna and Elni without an air condition.

For now I gave Machina a “Good luck” with lightly patting her head, but she didn’t seem to understand the meaning behind my words. She puzzled tilted her head.

Then we continued to chit-chat for a while and in no time we reached the place for us to part. I saw a broad crossroad.

Here we would part with Nazuna for now.

The seaside was held with my high school and the affiliated middle school. But the assembly spots were different. The students had to assemble at their respective schools from where they then take the bus and reunite at the target place.

“Okay, Brother, see you later.”

“Yeah. Don’t make too much merry just because you’re going on a trip. Be careful not to trip and injury yourself.”

“Meow!”

When Nazuna saluted with a smile as usual, a single girl showed up around the corner. That girl with still a faint baby-face stopped upon noticing us and smiled lightly.

“Good morning, Nazuna-chan.”

“Yeah, morning, Miichan!”

The name of the girl that Nazuna greeted back was Sakurai Miyuki, nicknamed Miichan. She was Nazuna best friend.

Miichan had come over to our house to play before, so I and Machina also knew her.

“Also good morning to you, Shinobu-oniisan and Machina-san.”

After she gave us a morning greeting as well, Miichan for some reason coloured her cheeks red and continued.

“I had a dream about you yesterday, Shinobu-oniisan. …You pervert. I believe it is not good to be perverted.”

“…Miichan, I don’t know what kind of dream you had, but I’m not at fault alone here. It’s often said ‘Perverseness is a man’s sin. And not forgiving that is a woman’s sin’. So you’re also at fault for not forgiving it, Miichan. We’re even.”

When I argued with unreasonable logic, Miichan brought her face with still red cheeks closer.

“If it is for you, Shinobu-oniisan, I forgive perverted things.”

“Ten years too early for you.”

She always said the weirdest things with a straight face. I lightly flicked Miichan’s forehead and looked at the travel bag she had shouldered.

“So you’re coming to seaside school too, Miichan.”

“Yes. I wanted to see the sea at dawn…”

“Hoo, you’re quite romantic. I expected nothing less. So I have a favour to ask of you.”

Most likely she wasn’t joking, but really serious about the sea at dawn. I reached out my hand for her and continued while gently petting her head.

“Sorry, but could you keep an eye on Nazuna during the seaside school? I’m a bit worried since she’s so excited. It only has to be when I’m not there. Can you do that for me?”

“Of course. Even if it costs my life, I will fulfil your request, Shinobu-oniisan.”

Saying exaggerated, Miichan softly took Nazuna’s hand. Upon that Nazuna firmly returned the squeeze of hand and waved her hand widely with a “See you” to Machina and me. Then the two of them happily walked away while holding hands.

“Hey, did you buy a new swimsuit, Miichan?”

“Yes. Since my chest has become bigger…”

“Ah, mine got a bit bigger too. I wish I were as big as you, Miichan…”

“And I would like to be as cute as you, Nazuna-chan…”

Watching over Nazuna and Miichan’s back while they happily chatted together with Machina, we then headed for our high school.

After we arrived at the high school, we headed to the sport grounds like the teacher standing in front of the main gate had told us. There various busses had lined up and near by a lot of students were engaging in their own chatting.

When we approached the busses, the female classmates started to call out to Machina once they noticed her.

—At first, when Machina had transferred in, everyone in class, me included, thought of her as “Queen-like” due to her appearance. That was why the girls kept her distance from her. But seeing her getting teased by me, everyone changed their opinion of her.

Actually, Machina was quite attentive and often covered for weaker girls in class. Also, she was quite athletic and had good grades.

Certainly she also was aloof, but that might only add to her charm. She specially seemed loved by the docile girls in class.

Machina herself wasn’t used to have so many people like her, as she seemed a bit bewildered, but also somewhat happy.

Some pervert had said “Except for the aloof part, she resembles you a lot”, but I didn’t have Machina’s charm that attracts others to her.

….Mh, Machina seemed to have fun, so I shouldn’t bother her.

I quietly got away from Machina and looked around for a familiar face, when I made eye-contact with an uselessly handsome guy.

“Oh, Nanjou.”

When that uselessly handsome guy noticed me, he came closer with a smile.

“It’s rare for you to participate in a school event. By the way, last year I—”

“Wait a sec. Sorry to interrupt your happy speech, but…who are you?”

“Eh? I’m Asada, you know? I think…”

When I cut into his words with a cold reply, the uselessly handsome guy Asada Kouta dropped his voice unconfident for some reason.

This idiot was my classmate and one of my few friends.

On top of being an idiot, he was a pervert with a sister complex. The girls in class evaluated him with “Only his face is good” and also scorned him as a “pervert”.

Also, the guys admired Asada for his straightforward loyalty to his desires and called him the “Gentleman Pervert” out of respect.

Asada paid my cold reaction no mind and talked to me with a smile.

“By the way, Nanjou, how was your vacation? Had fun?”

“Well, so-so I guess. What about you?”

Giving the refreshingly smiling Asada a side-glance, I asked while thinking that he would be popular if he weren’t a pervert. There Asada puffed up his chest and answered.

“The season is summer, but spring has finally come for me.”

“…It’s always spring in your head.”

“Not that. I got a girlfriend now. She asked me ‘Do you love me?’ numerous times, so she probably can’t live without me anymore.”

“Hee… That’s good for you.”

Asada spoke in a weird tone, so I could guess the gist of it.

When I made a suited agreeable response, Asada continued with his weird tone.

“So she keeps pestering me with ‘Kiss me’, so I think ‘She’s so hopeless’ while I kiss her… and got the screen of my computer dirty. I was a normal guy in the game, but in reality I was a lewd beast as ever. Unable to endure it any longer, I went on a trip in search for romance and sex for a while.”

“I see. So did you find romance and sex?”

“Both of them were under my bed.”

“Oh really. Happiness is always close by, I guess. Just like in The Blue Bird.”

Once again giving a suited agreeable response, I asked Asada to change the topic.

“That aside, Asada, what about your summer homework?”

“All done… until the 31st. I hope at least.”

“…Okay. Just like last year, I’ll look over your homework.”

Technically that lewd beast had been taking good care of me. The surprisingly stylish and well known Asada sometimes helped me pick western clothes or introduced me to periodically part-time jobs.

I thought about returned that favour, but Asada made a dubious face for some reason.

“…Somehow, you’re strangely nice today.”

For no apparent reason, Asada looked at me while his mouth formed a smirk.

“I see, I get it now. Truth is, you were lonely since you couldn’t see me during summer vacation, right? Geez, that’s cute. I’ll hug you and give you a kiss. C’mon, close your eyes.”

“…For starters, drop dead, Asada.”

I made a bitter retort to Asada’s disgusting misunderstanding.

However, Asada raised up both his hands and came closer while exposing his white teeth.

“Don’t act all bashful, Nanjou. Let’s deepen our friendship with a passionate embrace.”

“Your perverseness will rub off on me, so don’t come any closer.”

“Hehehe, I’ll touch you all over to rub my perverseness on you. You are a pervert – I am a pervert. There’s nothing to be scared of if we all get naked.”

“Hey, stop stripping! Hands off my clothes! You fucking siscon!”

“Don’t make fun of a siscon! Just try to diss my sister! I’ll beat you to a pulp and then kill you!”

“Kyaa, someone save me!”

Grabbed by the siscon at the collar, I screamed with a monotone voice.

Instantly, I heard footsteps from behind me.

“What’s wrong, Shinobu-kun!”

I heard a flustered voice. There Asada and I looked at each other and turned around. Our gazes fell onto the black-haired cool beauty Hijiri. Hijiri faced Asada and said somewhat angry.

“Asada-kun, let go off Shinobu-kun. He hates it.”

“Ah, yes. Somehow, I’m sorry. Nanjou wouldn’t shut up about ‘I want to touch Hijiri’s breasts! I want to fondle them like there’s no tomorrow!’, so I just…”

Asada made up a lie on the spot. I was astonished. Hijiri’s eyes were sparkling.

“Shinobu-kun, is that true? You should have just told me directly. It’s embarrassing, but I’ll try my—”

Hijiri came closer while reddening her cheeks, but suddenly she stopped her words and snuffled. Then she took a sniff of my smell and frowned for some reason.

“…Somehow, you smell of a girl, Shinobu-kun.”

“Ah, I was still half-asleep when I washed my hair this morning, so I used Luna’s shampoo. That’s what you smell. Hahaha….”

Most likely, I caught Luna’s smell by sleeping together with her last night. I myself wasn’t aware of it, so I was a bit surprised, but I believed I was able to hide my agitation.

Also, Asada continued with “My sister sometimes mistakes my mother’s shampoo with hers too….”, so Hijiri seemed to consent, as she softened her expression and pulled on the sleeve of my clothes reserved.

“So, Shinobu-kun, is that true from earlier?”

“No, that was Asada’s lie.”

Right away, Hijiri dropped her shoulders lightly and with a pouting frown, she said to Asada.

“Asada-kun, why are you lying? I’m going to be angry.”

“Ehh!? When Nanjou made the same lie before, you didn’t say that, did you!? So why with me…!?”

“…Hmpf.”

Upon Asada’s pathetic outcry, Hijiri reacted by facing sideways sternly.

There the teachers gathered on the grounds.

“Everyone~ It’s about time for us to leave~ Please board the busses~”

Our homeroom teacher (baby face) Hiiragi-sensei called out like that to everyone with her usual slow and kind voice. Following, she closed in to the bus in front of us and raised her right hand with a smile, holding up her index finger.

“Everyone who wants to ride the same bus as me, gather at this finger~”

Are you a kid—Is what I stopped myself from retorting. With just a wry smile, I headed for Hiiragi-sensei’s bus.

Because she would cry again if she was ignored.

The other guys of my class that attended seaside school must have had the same thought. Everyone gathered around Hiiragi-sensei with a wry smile like me. Then we boarded the bus urged by her and I sat down at a window seat in the back.

There Hijiri approached me cheerfully and opened her mouth while faintly blushing.

“Shinobu-kun, can I sit besides you?”

“Yeah, I don’t really mind.”

“Thanks.”

Smiling happily, Hijiri tried to sit down besides me, when

“Hold it thereee!”

Suddenly Asada appeared and raised a voice of restraint.

For some reason Asada sternly glared at Hijiri and continued with a somewhat loud voice.

“Gogyou-san, I can’t appreciate that you’re stealing a march on me. I want to sit besides Nanjou too. To be honest, it doesn’t seem that any girl would sit besides me. So Nanjou is all I have left. Please yield for me.”

“…You can go home now, Pervert.”

When I interjected, Asada cast down his eyes sadly and grabbed my shoulders.

“Nanjou, don’t brush if off with the single word pervert. You are my soul brother. Together, we’re shining ultra souls. People call it, love!”

While shouting disgusting stuff, Asada faced Hijiri again.

“As you can see, Gogyou-san, I can’t back off here, sorry. If you should insist on sitting besides Nanjou, I won’t hold back.”

Along with his words, Asada started to say “Uwrar- Ultra soul!” in a shrill voice and took a weird pose.

“Ehm….”

No idea how to cope with this, Hijiri made a troubled face and smiled vaguely.

There Machina, who I had parted with earlier, approached us and sent a warning to Asada’s back.

“Hey, don’t block the passage. I can’t reach Shinobu like this. Actually, what are you doing there? If you keep screwing around, I’ll kick you.”

Kick you—The moment he heard these words from Machina,

“P- Pl- Please kick me! I’m even willing to pay! Or even strip! No, rather I’ll strip! I just have to strip, damn iiit!”

Maybe hyper due to the trip, Asada reached out for his clothes and tried to strip.

Upon that, Machina turned around flustered and reached out her hand for the nearby class representative Katagiri-san for help.

“C- Class Rep, it’s a pervert! There’s a pervert here!”

“That pervert has been in our class forever, so what are you saying at this point? Hurry up and sit down, since you’re blocking the way.”

Katagiri-san stayed cool as ever.

On the other hand, Machina made a troubled face like Hijiri and seemed at a loss on what to do.

Amidst that, my classmate Minami suddenly showed up her face from the seat behind, slipped by Hijiri and naturally sat down besides me with a grin.

“Ehehe, I’m next to Nanjou-kun~”

Minami seemed to be in a good mood, but Hijiri, Machina and the Pervert started to wordlessly gaze at Minami in opposition. Minami instantly made a flustered face. However,

“*snore, snore*”

she brushed it away by feigning to sleep.

The others gave Minami an even more fierce glare and continued to apply wordless pressure. But Minami didn’t give in. She continued to feign to sleep even while a cold sweat broke out in her forehead…Then Asada made a faint sigh.

“We have no choice but to pull out here. Orangelo-san, would you like to sit together with me? If you want, you can even sit on my lap.”

“—Hijiri, let’s sit together.”

“Yeah, let’s sit over there then.”

Machina ignored Asada. Together with Hijiri, she sat down on the other side of Minami across the passage.

On the other hand, the left behind Asada mumbled hard wild stuff like “…A man has to be though to survive. The kind have no right to live” to himself with blank eyes and disappeared to the seat furthest in the back.

Asada’s back emitted an indescribable sorrow…

There Minami moved to the seat behind and got her own luggage. Upon her return, she started to blow up a beach ball with a smile.

I could understand her anticipation, but wasn’t it too early for this?

Such thoughts crossed my mind, when suddenly my prankish side awakened. I slowly reached out both my hands, grabbed the swelling up beach ball and pressed out the air again. At that moment,

“Hyan! It’s coming! It’s coming into my mouth!”

Releasing the air plug from her mouth, she raised a sexy voice, then Minami puckered her lips with a “Geez”. But she didn’t really seem angry and lightly pinched my cheek.

“Don’t suddenly shoot it into my mouth, Nanjou-kun. You surprised me there.”

“…Yeah, my bad. But isn’t it too early to blow up the beach ball now? Just wait until we’re at the sea. Also, stop protesting in a way that’s bound to make a misunderstanding.”

Upon my advice, Minami nodded obediently and put away the beach ball. Then she pulled out snacks from her travel bag.

“Then let’s eat some snacks. Here, Nanjou-kun, it’s a biscuit, Ahn~”

“No, thanks for the offer, but it would make me thirsty, so I pass. You eat it instead.”

I grabbed the slightly large biscuit that was offered to me with my hand and plunged it into Minami’s mouth instead. Upon that,

“Yaahn! Such a big one won’t fit into my mouth!”

Leaking a bewitching voice that caused unwanted delusions, Minami twisted her body.

…She was doing that on purpose, wasn’t she? Or was she really not aware of it? Either way, I would like her to stop—So I was a bit flustered in my heart, when the bus started to move. We departed for the seaside school…

While taking with Minami, our bus advanced on the street, passed by the buildings and then drove onto the freeway.

In time, Minami gradually spoke less and less and started to doze off. She might have gotten sleepy from the pleasant shaking of the bus. Both Machina and Hijiri were also sleeping, leaning against each other. No need to force a conversation now.

Deciding so, I removed my gaze from Minami and watched the scenery through the window.

There Minami opened her eyes a bit and said isolated with a quiet voice.

“…Nanjou-kun… gross…”

“Who are you calling gross? You easily says some hurtful stuff…”

“No, that’s not it….Seems I’m carsick.”

Along with her words, Minami flushed her cheek and came closer to me, breathing erotically.

…One wouldn’t never believe she, who was dozing off just now, would suddenly be carsick. This was an act without doubt.

While knowing that, I suddenly became a bit excited.

Minami’s big breasts pressed against my elbow. I couldn’t take off my eyes from her glamorous lips. Why were girls giving off such a sweet fragrance?

Questioning myself, I hid my agitation for now and replied casually.

“Minami, if you’re carsick, close your eyes.”

“Eh? Close my eyes….Don’t tell me, you want to take advantage of my weak state and force a kiss on me, Nanjou.kun!?”

“Don’t be stupid. Don’t give me that hopeful glance, nor that flirtatious glance. It’s better you sleep quickly if you’re sick. —Therefore, Machina, please sing Minami a lullaby, so she falls asleep.”

Raising my voice, I called out to Machina like that.

But her usual combination of getting tricked and then retorting didn’t come, instead she replied with weird sleep-talking “…Uhn~ Mother and Father are going to drown…”.

…Guess Machina was still asleep?

When I looked over to the seat across, Machina was sleeping with her cheek pressed against Hijiri’s shoulder.

Her sleeping face was cute. When I watched over her with a reflexive smile, Minami suddenly brought her face closer and blew into my ear with a “Fuh”.

Surprised by the hot breath tickling my ear, I returned my gaze, where Minami had opened her well-formed lips and tried to bit onto my ear.

“H- Hey, stop it. What are you doing?”

I hastily warned her, when for some reason, Minami pouted by puffing up her cheeks lightly.

“Because you’re looking away, Nanjou-lun. For now, just look at me. Feel me. Be smitten by me.”

“Fine.”

Nodding generously, I abandoned my retort. I intensely looked at Minami and before I noticed it, my gaze had been drawn to her huge breasts.

…Mh, seemed the rumour of her having a F-cup was justified. Luna’s were bigger though. But I could understand the feelings of my classmates of “wanting to touch them” well.

At first it was meant as a light joke, but before I noticed it, I was starring at Minami’s breasts. Upon that, Minami, whatever she was thinking, suddenly put both her hands around my neck.

“There.”

Along with a smile, she pulled me over, right into her voluminous breasts.

It was a sudden and unexpected action, so my face was buried into Minami’s huge breasts without a chance for me to resist. Minami’s breasts were soft and so voluminous that I could almost hear them making a boing sound, and in all honesty, they felt great.

However, I was a gentleman. Not getting intoxicated by her breasts, I swiftly got away from Minami and cleared my throat with a single cough.

“Minami, I think it’s better if you don’t pull such a prank with a boy.”

“Eh? Why? You were interesting in my breasts, weren’t you? It’s some service for you. Don’t fret it.”

In complete contrast to the bashful me, Minami gave me a wink in a nonchalant manner.

…Guess the term mischievous little devil referred to girls like her?

If I hadn’t been a gentleman, I might have gotten a weird misunderstanding here.

“Geez, you’re such a coquettish girl. You naughty prankster. Just what is your office teaching you?”

“Ehm, it’s not my office, but my mother who taught me: ‘Act as you desire. If a little push isn’t enough, then push down!’.”

“…To be honest, I’m a bit worried about your upbringing.”

“Yeah, I feel the same. But for me, it needed to be at least that assertive.”

On my half-astonished answer, Minami suddenly cast down her eyes.

“In the past, I was an unmotivated coward and cry-baby. I couldn’t do anything. I was really weak and couldn’t even stay with the boy I like…”

“…That’s a surprise.”

I couldn’t really picture that from Minami’s current behaviour.

A bit surprised and for some reason a little interested, I asked Minami.

“Just curious, what was your crush like?”

“Mhm~ A bit violent with a foul mouth. A shy boy that loves his little sister.”

“….Impressive you fell for a guy like that.”

“Fufu, yeah. But he, also sometimes teasing me, and his sister were the only ones who played with the cry-baby me. When I cried, he would pet my head until I stopped…I was really happy about that.”

“Hee, so it was an unexpected nice guy…”

When I said so, Minami showed a sad expression for a moment for some reason, then continued “And you know,” with a smile.

“As a kid, that boy had a face way cuter than me, so I think he looks great in cross-dressing even now.”

“…Minami, even if it looks great, you shouldn’t force him into cross-dressing. Depending on the person, it can cause a light trauma.”

As a matter of fact, at the culture festival I was first forced by Minami, then by the other girls in class to cross-dress and received a wound in my heart that could never be erased again.

I never wanted to cross-dress again. Whatever might happen in the future, I would deny to cross-dress.

Renewing my resolve, I faced Mimani, who had a healthy complexion.

“Mh? What’s wrong, Nanjou-kun? Do you want another hug like earlier?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Denying clearly, I intensely looked into Minami’s eyes.

“…Hey, actually, you aren’t carsick at all, right?”

“That’s not true. I’m sick. Smitten sickly by your profile <3” “Haha, nice one. Well then, get smitten by my sleeping face now.” I got tired of dealing with Minami. I leaned back into my seat and closed my eyes, but right away my sleeve was pulled jerkily. “What? Looking isn’t enough for you? Touching costs extra, you know?” When I opened one eye and called attention, Minami pulled on my sleeve again and said sweetly. “Nanjou-kun, we’re finally sitting next to each other, so let’s talk some more.” “Some other time. I’m tired. Let me sleep.” “No, don’t sleep, Darling. I’m not satisfied yet. I want more. If you don’t keep going, I’ll do it by myself.” “Hey, who are you calling Darling? Don’t say weird stuff. Don’t make it sound lewd. Don’t leave out the subject. You sound like a sexual frustrated wife.” Retorting in one breathe, I made a sigh and continued. “I see that you’re bored, but let me sleep. Here, I’ll let you use my lap as a service. You seemed sleepy, so you sleep as well.” Of course I was joking about the lap. However, “Th- Then I’ll take you up on your words.” Flushing her cheeks, Minami bended her body and rested her cheek on my lap. I, I didn’t think she would really do it… Her soft body and a stimulating warmth that cracked my reasoning. …Somehow, it was completely different from when Nazuna was resting on my lap. I was completely awake now. I looked out of the window to distract me. And after a few minutes, Minami started to emit quiet sleeping sounds. Should I call her defenceless or what… I lightly shrugged my shoulders and watched Minami’s sleeping face, when I suddenly felt a gaze from the opposite seat. When I bothered made a side-glance to check it out, Hijiri was looking at Minami with an envious expression and mixed with a sigh, she said “…I couldn’t do it like Kaoru-san told me to” with a quiet voice. Could it be, Hijiri had planned to seduce me even inside the bus? …Yeah, I should be careful from now on if I happen to sit next to Hijiri. With such thoughts, I once again faced my eyes to the scenery outside. * * * Being shaken around in the bus for around three hours, I started to see the green of mountains and the blue of the sea outside of the window. The bus advanced on a coastland street and we finally reached our destination. There I got off the bus with everyone and headed to the lodging house, where we would be staying during the seaside school. According to the seaside school pamphlet, we would be doing barbeque in the courtyard of the Japanese style lodging house, but until then we could use the time for ourselves. Therefore, I headed to my assigned four-person room and left my luggage there, then I went out to the beach on Asada’s invitation. I changed into my swimming trunks in the beach changing room….but all guys around me started to take their distance from me. Only Asada leaked an “Amazing muscles” with an envious voice, but I put on a hooded sweatshirt to hide my scars, then I headed for the beach. My vision fell onto the broad, blue sea and the white sandy beach. Under the bright sun, girls clad in swimsuits were swimming, playing beach volleyball or laying around for a tan. Of course there were males around too, but I promptly removed them from of my vision. Were Nazuna, Machina and Hijiri also playing around nearby? I watched around the area in search for them, when Asada besides me called out. “Look, Nanjou, at the broad, blue sky.” “…You hate the blue sky, don’t you?” “Why do I have to be such a character? I’m a pervert suited for the blue sky!” While raising his voice, Asada faced the frolicing swimsuit-clad girls on the beach. “Nanjou, long live the beach. I can legitimate watch girls in swimsuits. Moreover, this year the most popular girls in class, #1 Gogyou-san, #2 Orangelo-san and #3 Minami are participating in the seaside school. I want to see them in their swimsuits already.” “Well, that’s certainly something to look forward to.” Nodding agreeable to Asada, I asked casually. “Hey, Asada, these three seem popular with the boys, but which boys are popular with the girls?” “Idiot! Don’t ask the obvious! It’s me! It’s obviously me!” Saying so angrily for some reason, Asada added “…That is if you reverse the order” sadly and continued. “By the way, from a questionnaire with the girls, the most popular guy turns out to be Sasaki from the basketball club.” “Mhm, how enviable.” I wasn’t interested all that much, so I made a suited reply and paid it no heed, but for some reason Asada stared at me with teary eyes. “Enviable, my ass! You’re the second most popular one, Nanjou! It’s probably due to your cross-dressing at the culture festival… but can someone as popular as you understand my feelings? I, I even had negative votes.” Along with his words, Asada started to cry. I gently placed my hand on Asada’s shoulder and kindly declared with a smile. “Asada, tears don’t suit you. And a smile suits you even less.” “Then what am I supposed to do?“

For some reason Asada retorted with a Kansai dialect, then posed me q question this time.

“By the way, who do you like the most in class?”

“I like myself the most.”

“Here you should say ‘The Pervert’, even if it’s a lie… wait, no. Your answer is the worst.”

“Why? Someone who can’t love himself, can’t love someone else, you know?”

“…I’m a pervert, so when I can’t love this self of mine, I can’t love someone else? I’m a generally accepted pervert, you know? Is it really okay to love this self of mine?”

“Of course it’s okay. Go through with your perverseness until the end, fall down alone to the bottom. The breakdown doctrine of living while falling down.”

I couldn’t care less, so I gave an irresponsible reply.

“Ehm, Shinobu-kun…”

I was called out from behind with a reserved voice. That voice belonged to Hijiri. Previously when we went to the holiday house of my grandfather with everyone, Hijiri wore a daring leopard-patterned swimsuit.

…Was she wearing the same one now?

When I turned around with these thoughts, my vision fell on Hijiri wearing a school swimsuit of all things.

The dark blue school swimsuit wrapped around her slender and attractive body tightly and the swellings on her chest bulked out largely. On top of the chest was a nametag with “Hijiri” attached and the cleavage of her voluminous breasts peeked out under her collar.

Instantly, Asada shouted “I- Is there anyone with a digital camera!?” and sprinted away with the speed of light.

Watching that with a side-glance, Hijiri then flushed her cheeks and approached me.

“How is it, Shinobu-kun? Kaoru-san prepared it for me. All boys love school swimsuits, right? Does it excite you?”

“…My impression aside for now, let me tell you something. I’ll certainly be taken for a pervert when I’m with you in that outfit. Well, I could endure that, but it would be rather awkward.”

I was already getting sharp gazes from people. I could even heard mumblings voices of “He forced her to wear it”, “What a brute” or “Such a beast” in unjust suspicion.

When I turned around, the nearby people turned pale and fled rudely as soon as they saw my face.

I made a sigh in my heart and shifted my gaze back to Hijiri. She had dropped her shoulders dejected.

“…I’m sorry, Shinobu-kun. I didn’t consider that. I’ll go change into a different swimsuit.”

Hijiri turned her back to me and mumbling a “I couldn’t please Shinobu-kun again…”, she trotted away.

This was just Kaorun’s suggestion again anyway. Even our classmates would be surprised if they saw Hijiri in that outfit. If she had a different swimsuit, it would be better that she changed into that.

While I thought so, I became plagued by an unknown, yet strong guilt. I couldn’t stand to watch Hijiri’s retreating figure that had her shoulders curled up depressed. I called out to her softly.

“Ehm, Hijiri, that swimsuit is certainly somewhat maniac, but, well, you know, it still looks charming on you.”

Midway in my sentence I became embarrassed and scratched my head. There Hijiri slowly turned around and showed me a bright smile.

“Thanks, Shinobu-kun. I’ll be back real quick, so let’s play together.”

“Yeah, I’ll wait.”

I replied to Hijiri with a nod, then I heard a familiar voice saying “…Playing the tsundere as ever”.

…Somehow, that voice sounded awful a lot like Kaorun, but could she actually be here?

Curiously I looked around the area, when I spotted Minami in the corner of my vision.

Minami wore a daring light-blue bikini and her voluminous, big breasts were honey for my eyes. And her slender waist and soft thighs were charming.

The gazes of the nearby guys were focused on Minami and she was looking around curiously, as searching for someone.

However, when she met my eyes, Minami waved her hand happily and came running over.

By doing so, Minami’s big breasts bounced terrific.

The nearby guys got smitten watching these huge breasts, but Minami didn’t seem to notice that. With “There you are, Nanjou-kun”, she smiled innocently.

“Hey, Nanjou-kun, how’s this swimsuit? Feel like playing with me now?”

While saying so, she bended forward and took a pose that emphasized her breasts.

Staring would be rude. So I swiftly averted my eyes from the cleavage of her voluminous breasts.

“Huh? You’re looking away, Nanjou-kun?”

“Because I’m a gentleman.”

On Minami’s teasing question, I replied without hesitation.

Upon that, Minami moved into my gaze and smiled erotic, rocking her huge breasts with her own two hands.

“Geez, take a proper look, Nanjou-kun. See, they’re even bigger than last year now.”

“H- Hey, stop it, it’s immodest! Others are looking, you know! Your daddy doesn’t remember raising you like that!”

“Eh? Daddy…Nanjou-kun, you’re my father!?”

“No! I’m the same age as you! What’s with that stupid reply?”

When I retorted immediately, Minami now reached out for my hooded sweatshirt for no apparent reason.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“I showed you my swimsuit, so you show me yours too. C’mon, aren’t you hot in that? I’ll be so kind to take it off for you.”

Smiling bewitching, Minami grabbed the zipper of my hooded sweatshirt.

In that moment, I immediately pressed my hand onto my chest and stopped Minami from moving. But Minami didn’t give up and resisted while lightly puffing up her cheeks.

“Muh, Nanjou-kun, you meanie! If you keep being obstinate, I’ll take off your bottom.”

“Owa! What are you doing! Stop it!”

Along with her words, Minami grabbed my swimming trunks, so I hastily held them up with my hands. Using the opportunity, Minami pulled down the zipper of the sweatshirt with attitude, opening my clothes. But midway she stopped her hand, widened her eyes and froze up.

…Most likely she had seen the scars on my body.

I had scars in all sizes all over my body. I got these scars from when I couldn’t keep up with the training of my grandfather or father, or when I lost in a school match. The one that stood out the most was a sword wound that Hijiri inflicted on my chest when I covered for Machina previously.

Luna wasn’t scared even when she saw this scar strewn body. So I myself didn’t worry about it either, but a normal person would surely be frightened by it.

As a matter of fact, not only the boys were frightened at the pool classes last and this year, but even the teacher. This year it wasn’t that bad, since more people got to know about me, but it was specially cruel last year.

Back then, I did nothing but fighting matches with other schools, so I often came to school wounded all over.

Moreover, I have an evil eye. Seeing such a guy coming to school hurt frequently, most of my classmates mistook me for a delinquent. They always kept their distance from me.

The only ones who weren’t afraid of me at that time were the perverted, but strangely kind idiot…my friend Asada and Minami, who just happened to sit next to me in the first year. Only the two of them.

But, seeing these scars, I was sure even Minami would be frightened. While feeling a shred of sadness, I pulled up the zipper of my hooded sweatshirt and hid my body.

“Sorry for showing you something unsightly.”

“…It’s not unsightly.”

She spoke quietly, but her tone was firm and there wasn’t a shred of fear in her eyes.

Instead, her eyes were dyed with great sadness.

“I’m fine with scars. Don’t worry about it. I don’t think it’s frightening, so don’t apologize. Don’t make, such a face…”

“…Such a face?”

What kind of face was I making right now?

I tried touching my own cheek, but to be honest, I couldn’t tell.

Minami took her eyes off me and cast them down. Somewhat sadly, she continued.

“…Nanjou-kun, you don’t really place value on others, or rather when someone is scared of you, you make resigned expression and take a distance by yourself. There’s even a distance between everyone in class and you. The only ones you approach on your own accord are Asada-kun, Orangelo-san and Gogyou-san.”

There she faced me with bleared eyes.

“You might only think of me as a simple classmate, but to me, you’re a very precious friend. So let’s get along better. Let’s play together. I don’t, want to be apart anymore…”

…For a moment, I was at a loss for words. I was happy. Minami wasn’t frightened even after seeing my scars and called me a friend…That made me happy.

Just like Minami had said, I really might be taking a distance from my classmates. Because I had more important things to do than playing or talking with my classmates, only Asada kindly stuck by me one year ago.

But, personally I didn’t hate playing with my friends.

“Thanks.”

I said my thanks with a quiet voice and averted my gaze from Minami. I opened my mouth to change the topic.

“…Hijiri’s going to be back soon, so do you want to play with us, Minami?”

“Can I?”

“Yeah, of course. Since, we’re friends…”

I couldn’t help but feel bashful. Unable to look Minami straight into the face, I kept my gaze averted from her. So I didn’t know what kind of face she was making right now, but

“Well then, Nanjou-kun, I’ll get the others, so let’s play beach volleyball.”

hearing her cheerful voice, I smiled and thought.

That Minami surely was showing a smile like me.

Still, I might have been a bit conceited. At this point, I didn’t notice the meaning behind Minami’s words.

—I don’t, want to be apart anymore…

I didn’t notice the meaning behind these words.

* * *

Later, Hijiri returned in a normal swimsuit— or rather in the red bikini that she had worn at the Bridal Showdown at my house before— and we enjoyed playing beach volleyball with some classmates.

For a while we all played like that, when Hijiri left the place with the words “I have something to do”. She was probably heading for her exorcist investigation.

Thinking that, I considered helping her out, but Hijiri turned me down with the words “No, you have to play with Nazuna-chan and Machina-san”.

So just like Hijiri had told me, I went to look for Nazuna and Machina on the sandy beach to play with them. There I spotted Machina building a sand castle with the other girls from class.

Machina wore the same high-exposure, black bikini that she already wore when we played at the river near my grandfather’s holiday house. The sand castle they were building looked rather neat.

The girls stood in front of the completed sand castle rather excited and said “Let’s take a memorial picture”.

For starters, I approached them and agreed to take their picture. Somehow I was dragged into the picture then as well, but that wasn’t important.

After the photo shooting, I called out to Machina casually.

“Hey, Machina, you’re not going to swim?”

“I, I was busy with building the castle…”

“Mhm, so you say, but perhaps you actually can’t swim?”

“H- How did you know!? Could it be, you know that I’m always using the kickboard during swimming class— wait! Don’t take me for a fool! Of course, I can swim! I think…”

Somehow her usual combination of getting tricked and then retorting lacked in sharpness. But, I paid it no mind and took Machina’s hand.

“Well then, let’s swim a bit together. Nazuna might be in the water too, so let’s look for her.”

“….Eh? C- Certainly I want to play with Nazuna, but, uhm…”

For some reason, Machina avoided my gaze, though she didn’t resist. There I pulled her into the water on her hand, but as we proceeded into the water, Machina started to strongly squeeze my hand.

“Sh- Shinobu, Nazuna isn’t here. My feet went reach the bottom anymore soon, so we should hurry back— Kyaa!”

In the moment a huge wave came, Machina raised a small scream and clung to me with attitude.

When I looked down, my gaze fell on a pale and shaking Machina.

“…Don’t tell me, you really can’t swim?”

Feeling the indescribable pleasant elasticity of her breasts, I asked, whereupon Machina said pouting while still clinging to me.

“It, It’s not my fault. I rarely had a chance to swim until now. And I only went to the sea once as a kid. Besides, swimming classes are too severe for beginners. They aren’t teaching you how to swim at all.”

“Well, in high school they expect you to be able to swim.”

Nodding, I asked casually.

“But you went to the sea once, right? Didn’t the old man Bram teach you how to swim then?”

“…Father can’t swim.”

“Eh? Is that so? What a surprise…”

Machina replied somehow dissatisfied to my slightly surprised self.

“It’s not surprising at all. When we went to the beach and he said he would teach me swimming, he himself nearly drowned. He opposed me when I wanted to go the human world and even now when I write him letters, he rarely sends back a reply… He’s a lot of bad points.”

…Could it be, I stepped on a landmine? Before I noticed it, complains about old man Bram had started.

But well, Machina loved him. She just might be a bit lonely, as he didn’t pay much attention to her. Without doubt, her dissatisfaction was a by-product of her affection.

That was kind of heart-warming.

Reaching out my hand towards Machina, I gently petted her head.

“Hey, you said you write him letters, but what are you writing in it?”

“….I, I’m afraid I don’t remember.”

For some reason, Machina made an awkward expression and averted her eyes.

Hopefully she wasn’t writing anything weird in her letters?

I was a bit worried, but not so much that I would force her to answer. Pulling on Machina’s hand, I returned to shallow waters and made a suggestion to her there.

“Machina, you’ll have more opportunities to go to the sea now, so should I teach you how to swim?”

“I- If you insist on it, I’ll let you teach me.”

“…Farewell, Tsundere.”

I knew she was hiding her embarrassment, but I turned my back to her in a joke. Instantly,

“Eh? No way. Wait, Shinobu!”

Machina hastily grabbed my arm, as she didn’t think I would turn her down.

“Hey, Shinobu, I apologize if you’re angry. So teach me how to swim.”

“…If you insist, I don’t mind teaching you, but there’s one condition. While I teach you, you have to put ‘meow’ at the end of your sentence.”

“Okay, meow ♪ wait, what are you making me say! Actually, why are you always making me say such weird things! Is it that fun to tease me!?“

“Sorry. Actually, it’s quite amusing. You’re really cute.”

Inadvertently I smiled and petted Machina’s head again, whereupon Machina, angry up till now, strangely enough turned bright red and looked down. She became obedient.

I had wanted to tease Machina a bit longer, but I restrained myself and devoted myself to teach her how to swim.

Machina had a good athletic aptitude. She should be able to swim in no time once she got the gist of it. Is what I thought, but Machina was unexpectedly scared of the water and while she had mastered the flutter kick, she still held onto my hand as of now.

“Don’t let go, Shinobu. Don’t you dare to let go. Should you ever let go— NOOO!”

To test it, I let go off her hand midway in her sentence, whereupon tears instantly dwelled up in her eyes and she clung to me.

“Why are you letting go right when I tell you not to!”

“I thought you were bluffing…”

“I’m not such a good actor!”

Puffing up her cheeks lightly, Machina clung to me even stronger.

Her big breasts softly changed shape on my chest and because Machina had moved around, her swimsuit had rolled up and the valuable parts were nearly visible.

…My reasoning wouldn’t last if she clung to me every time I let go off her hand.

Coming to that conclusion, I taught her kind and careful and after a suitable time, I decided to let go off her hand.

—As a result, Machina learned to swim in a rather short time, also due to her good athletic aptitude.

After that, I swam together with Machina for a while, then returned to the beach for a break and once again looked for Nazuna. There I was called out from behind with “Shinobu-oniisan!”.

I turned around to that flustered voice, whereupon my gaze fells on Nazuna’s friend, Miichan. Miichan was wearing an indigo blue bikini and her breasts were well developed for a middle schooler.

“Yo, what’s up? Aren’t you together with Nazuna?”

I asked casually. Miichan answered with a rare worried expression.

“I was with her up till now, but when I came back from buying drinks, Nazuna was in a quarrel with the girls from class. I didn’t know what to do. I thought about calling the teacher, so I—”

“I get it. It’s okay now. I’ll go take a look.”

Cutting into her words, I said so to calm her down. Miichan made a sigh of relief. But well, the brother butting in a fight between girls wasn’t such a good idea. If possible, I really just wanted to check upon the situation, but

“Miichan, lead me there. I’ll give them a piece of advise.”

Machina seemed gravely angered.

…It might be more troublesome to stop her.

A bit worried, I moved along the beach guided by Miichan. Then my gaze fell onto Nazuna and three other girls.

Nazuna was wearing an orange one-piece swimsuit and the other three girls wore swimsuits as well.

For starters, I took my gaze off Nazuna and looked at the other girls.

…The girl in the middle was probably the leader. That girl was wearing an elegant swimsuit for a middle schooler and spoke in a somewhat overbearing voice.

“Nanjou-san, don’t you think you are getting a bit cheeky lately? Not only did you readily turned down Sakamoto-sama from the soccer club when he confessed to you before, but you also keep turning down the invitations to play together of various boys.”

While saying so, her shoulders trembled and the girl shouted in a loud voice.

“Why is it only you! I am way more—Not that! You have fun toying around with the hearts of the boys, don‘t you! I absolutely cannot forgive that!”

“Yeah, yeah! Just as Chihaya-sama says!”

“Just to tell you, it’s not like Chihaya-sama is jealous or anything! It look like she’s merely venting her anger, but— actually, she’s venting her anger onto you! Sorry that’s she such an idiot!”

One of the remaining girls agreed with the girl called Chihaya-sama while the other girl apologized to Nazuna.

But the girl—Chihaya-san raised a loud “Oh~hohoho!” laughter, as she had been encouraged despite having been called an “idiot”.

…Aw, that girl really was an idiot.

Such somewhat rude thoughts crossed my head, when Chihaya-san firmly pointed at Nazuna and strongly declared.

“—Therefore, I will no strictly rake you over the coals! Prepare yourself, you thieving cat!”

“Meow!”

Even though she was criticized, Nazuna clung onto Chihaya-san with a smile, as she was happy to be called a cat.

Instantly, Chihaya-san widened her eyes in surprise.

“Wha! To be able to close in on me this easily, she is not an amateur! Also, she… she is cute!”

“Yeah, yeah! Just as Chihaya-sama says! She’s as cute as a kitten!”

“Chihaya-sama! Please switch with me! Actually, you’re in the way! And while I’m at it, let me tell, you really are an idiot! You’re not raking her over the coals, but are totally smitten by her!”

When one of the girls that were probably her followers said so severely like before, Chihaya-san made a shocked expression and hastily got away from Nazuna, turning the back on her.

“I, I will leave it at this for today! Be grateful for my tolerance! And don’t get cheeky any more from now on! A good day to you. Oh~hohoho— *cough, cough*”

Midway in her high laughter, Chihaya-san coughed vehemently and leaving the words “….I got a bit of air into my lung”, she went away from Nazuna with her follower girls.

However, midway Chihaya-san made eye-contact with me, then she reddened her cheeks for some reason and mumbled a “…So wild” while she passed by me with side-glances.

Soon after, I could hear faint voices saying “Older men are also wonderful”, “But he looked kinda scary…”, “What are you saying, Asana? Only guys like him pick up an abandoned cat in the rain. You also think so, right Chihaya-sama?”, “…He is handsome” and “No use asking this idiot”.

Not concerned about that, Machina went over to Nazuna right away, but Miichan stopped on the spot and isolated said with a quiet voice.

“…I knew it, Nazuna-chan is amazing.”

When I faced her, Miichan was making a somewhat sad expression.

“Even though she’s popular in class, unlike me, she still gets along with someone like me despite that. She stays with me. She always helps me. But, once again, I couldn’t do anything for Nazuna-chan….”

Dropping her shoulders and head, Miichan continued with a frail voice.

“…I wonder if it is enjoyable for Nazuna-chan to stay with a girl like me?”

“Of course it is. She’s your friend because it’s fun.”

I called out to her with a soft tone, but Miichan said with a teary voice while still looking down.

“But, I’m not interesting… I’m often told that I’m weird.”

“Don’t worry about what others say. What matters is Nazuna’s feelings. She stays with you because it’s fun being by your side, Miichan.”

I slowly reached out my hand for Miichan’s head.

“Besides, you’re charming enough, Miichan. Don’t worry about others. Please get along with Nazuna from now on as well.”

When I petted her head sentimental, Miichan raised her head and clung to me with a nod.

“Thank you, Shinobu-oniisan. I cheered up thanks to your words. They also gave me courage. I fell for you all over again, Shinobu-oniisan. Please let me stay by your side from now on as well.”

“Yeah, as long as it is as a friend.”

I replied smiling with a nod, but Miichan frowned lightly, as she was dissatisfied.

“I want to stay with you as a lover, Shinobu-oniisan.”

“Sorry, but I’m not looking for a lover.”

“…Wh- Why are you not looking for one? Could it be, you already have a girlfriend? Earlier I saw you playing with a girl with big breasts at the beach. Is she your girlfriend, Shinobu-oniisan?”

“What would you do if I said she is?”

Most likely Miichan’s “girl with big breasts” was referring to Minami, but I dared to not deny it and asked her teasingly.

Upon that, Miichan became close to tears, then she strongly clenched her fists and said with a vigorous tone.

“I will not lose. It’s NTR. A suspense show that runs on Tuesday.”

“That means someone will die?”

“Ah, right. I would likely the first to die in that case and I wouldn’t want anyone else to die either, so I’ll think of another way.”

“…W- Well, good luck. Also, she isn’t my girlfriend.”

Replying so with a wry smile, I headed together with Miichan towards Nazuna and Machina.

Afterwards, Machina played the big sister and said she would treat Nazuna and Miichan to some shaved ice, so we moved to the beach house. Under a table parasol outside the store, Machina and I watched over Nazuna and Miichan eating their shaved ice.

There Miichan, who was eating a melon-flavoured shaved ice, said remembering.

“Reminds me, if you put honey on a cucumber it said to taste like melon, but is that true?”

“That’s a lie. I tried it with Elni and Nazuna before, but it was far from tasting like melon.”

“It wasn’t all that good….”

Machina sighed while Nazuna made a disappointed expression.

…What were they acting like kids for with Elni?

As such I got weary in my heart, when Miichan said “Mr. Kappa might have tried it too, since he loves cucumber” and compared her melon-flavoured shaved ice with Machina’s breasts. She opened her mouth.

“Machina-san, your breasts are as big as melons. How can I get such big breasts as you?”

“Mh? I haven’t done anything in particular…well, they might grow bigger if you let someone fondle them?”

She was playing the big sister again. Machina showed a composed smile and replied. Upon that, Miichan faced me again for no apparent reason and while pulling on my sleeve she asked a favour.

“Shinobu-oniisan, please fondle my breasts. I want mine to grow as big as Machina-san’s.”

…It was just so sudden that my heart wavered a bit on Miichan’s words, but I should tell her openly that I didn’t get excited over a middle school with the same age as Nazuna.

So I averted my eyes from Miichan and replied nonchalant.

“Miichan, fondle your breast on your own.”

“Th- That’s embarrassing. If someone were to see me fondling my own breasts by myself, I would become unfit for a bride…!”

“Likewise, if the police were to see me fondling the breasts of a middle schooler, I would become unable to walk under the sky. Sorry, but give up on it.”

I behaved cool, but Miichan said not discouraged.

“Well then, Shinobu-oniisan, please fondle my breasts once I’m a high schooler.”

“Can I?”

I should show composure just like Machina had. I placed my hand on Miichan’s chin and whispered with a flirtatious glance.

“Though it might not end with just fondling your breasts at that time.”

“I, I don’t mind if it’s you.”

…Huh? She instantly replied with a straight face? I didn’t expect this reaction. Machina also widened her eyes with “M- Middle schoolers these days sure are bold” while Nazuna was… preoccupied with her shaved ice.

For starters, I took my hand off Miichan’s chin, who had turned bright red up till her ears, and patted her head with a wry smile.

“Thanks. I’m happy for your feelings, but you’re still in middle school. So I think it’s better if you don’t say stuff like that.”

“…Muh, getting treated as a kid is frustrating.”

“Well, you actually are still a kid. Deal with it.”

Once again making a wry smile, I stood up and leaving behind the words “I’m going to the toilet”, I left… When I came back from the toilet, Machina and Miichan seemed to have gone to the toilet as well, so I waited for their return together with Nazuna.

By the way, now Nazuna was preoccupied with blowing up a dolphin swimming ring that she brought with her from the changing room. With a smile and without rest, she continued to blow air into it and she finally finished, but when she tried to stand up after that, she staggered a bit.

“…B- Brother, somehow I feel dizzy. Is there not enough oxygen around here?”

“You just have an oxygen deprivation. Lay down and rest for a bit, then you’ll be fine again.”

While saying so, I beckoned her, whereupon Nazuna nodded obediently and sat down besides me. Soon enough she bended her small body and entrusted her cheek onto my thigh.

…I didn’t meant to give her a lap pillow, but it was Nazuna, so oh well. Unlike with Minami, I didn’t feel a strange nervousness. So it shouldn’t matter.

Since I had nothing else do, I started to play around with Nazuna’s soft cheek by poking it, but

“Meow, meow.”

even though her cheek was played with, Nazuna showed no resistance and rang a happy voice. Her body was more and more growing up into a girl, but her behaviour hadn’t change from when she was a kid. She still seemed far away from graduating her childhood.

I made a wry smile inadvertently.

“Nazuna, with me it’s fine, but you shouldn’t act overly spoiled with everyone. Mom said ‘When you act spoiled towards someone, you have to spoil someone in exchange’, right?”

“It’s okay. You’re a special case, Brother. At school I’m careful not to act spoiled more than necessary with my friends.”

“That’s a surprise.”

When I replied teasingly, Nazuna made a slightly serious expression and opened her mouth.

“Listen here, Brother, I’m quick to act spoiled with those I love, but you’re different from me. You don’t act spoiled with anyone.”

“Mh? Really? I believe I’m acting a bit spoiled with Luna and Mom?”

“But you rarely depend on anyone at school.”

“There just isn’t anyone I could rely on, even if I wanted. I don’t have much friends.”

“That’s because you only visited Gramps’ doujo in the past.”

She wasn’t speaking of herself, yet she said so regretful.

“Actually, you should have more friends. I mean, you had a lot of friends before you started going to the doujo.”

“Well, back then I was the hero named ‘Shinomun’ after all.”

“Fufu, yeah. There were even a girl who liked you very much, Brother.”

“…There was, someone like that?”

My memories of my childhood were hazy. I specially had a lot of blanks from seven years ago, most likely due to old man Bram erasing my memories for meeting Luna. The only thing I remembered that Nazuna got into a traffic incident because of me.

The reason I didn’t feel bothered by my vague memories at that time was that I had set my sight on becoming stronger. And because there was an incident, which remained in my head even when I tried to forget it, for which I couldn’t forgive my hopeless self that was so painfully powerless…I wanted them to stay vague.

Still, as to make me remember about the past,

“Geez, have you forgotten about Sakura-chan, Brother?”

Nazuna phrased that name.

—Sakura-chan.

That was the name of a girl that was in love with me in my childhood.

But upon hearing that name again, the recurring feeling was…just regret.

Along with a faint headache, I felt a great throb in my chest and my breathing faltered. However, I chose to act like always by creating a smile to hide that.

“…I haven’t forgotten about her. After all, she was my passionate fan. Actually, I’m impressive you remember all that.”

“How could I forget. I always played together with Sakura-chan in the past.”

Nazuna lowered the ends of her eyebrows slightly sadly and continued.

“…But, I wonder why she stopped coming to the park, even though she liked you so much?”

That’s because I hurt her—is what I swallowed down.

“Who knows.”

I brushed it off with a vague smile.

Upon that followed a silence, then Nazuna opened her mouth to get back on topic.

“Hey, Brother, you had so many friends in the past, so you should be able to make a lots of friends at school again if you try. I mean, you’re so cool and kind.”

“…You’re giving me too much credit. Besides, I’m not so kind as you think.”

“That’s not true. You often help people in trouble…”

“That’s just for my own self-satisfaction. I merely help them because I want to. I’m not doing it out of kindness.”

When I denied with a slightly serious tone, Nazuna smiled faintly.

“You said the same when you were in middle school, Brother.”

“Mh? I did?”

“Yeah. You once told me: ‘Today I helped a girl who was pestered by a man, but she got scared of me, which was agonizing’.”

“…You really have a good memory.”

Just like Nazuna had said, I once helped an unknown girl, sometime around my second year of middle school. But I had sent the guy to the ground with my fist and when I reached out for the girl, she had fled in a panic.

Well, understandable. Anyone would be scared after seeing such one-sided violence. Even more so if it was a girl. My way of help was wrong.

Still, it wasn’t like I wanted a reward, but for the youthful me it was kind of sorrowful, so I ended up complaining to Nazuna.

Back then, I was more of a brat than now…

While making a wry smile, I remembered about the past, when Nazuna darkened her smile and continued.

“You were smiling back then, but you had a sad expression, so I became sorrowful and cried, even though I shouldn’t. Then you said ‘I didn’t help her to get gratitude or a reward. It was just for my self-satisfaction, so it doesn’t matter.’ and petted my head.”

“…I see. I was already so cool back then.”

“Yeah.”

I cracked a joke to hide my embarrassment, but Nazuna ended up affirming it with a nod.

“You see, Brother, I cried back then, but I’m fine now. So when you get depressed, I’ll hug you and pet your head. So, act spoiled with me, okay.”

“I’m the older brother, so I won’t act spoiled with my little sister Nazucat.”

“Ehh, that’s just weird.”

“It’s not weird at all. An older brother isn’t just someone who gets born earlier. Protecting his younger siblings however cheeky they might be, that’s what it means to be an older brother.”

Reaching out my hand for Nazuna, I softly continued while petting her head.

“Fortunately you’re cute, but you’re my little sister, so don’t tell your older brother ‘You can act spoiled with me’. Just rely and act spoiled with me all you want.”

“…You won’t acted spoiled, Brother?”

“I was spoiled by you plenty enough already. I’m a failure as a big brother if I keep getting spoiled by my little sister. So don’t pay it any mind and act spoiled all you want. Well, be careful not to overdo it though.”

“Mhm~ Was there ever a time when you acted spoiled with me, Brother?”

Apparently Nazuna hadn’t noticed it, but actually I had been saved by Nazuna a lot.

Probably because I attended my grandfather’s doujo, I didn’t have a single friend in middle school. Everyone in class was scared of me and called me a delinquent…I was isolated.

Despite that I didn’t feel lonely because I had Nazuna.

Even when I was alone at school, once I came home, Nazuna was waiting for me with a smile. When I was hurt and hospitalized, she came to visit me every day. She invited me to play together.

Nazuna didn’t know just how much that saved me.

It was embarrassing, so I couldn’t tell her directly, but I was really grateful to Nazuna.

So I had tried to fulfil Nazuna’s wishes as best as possible, but I never imagined that she would want me to act spoiled with her.

…Nazuna was gradually growing up into an adult.

Honestly, I was happy about the growth of my little sister. But on the other hand I embraced a complicated feeling— wait, why was I acting like a father?

While I retorted to myself in my heart, I continued to pet Nazuna’s head for a while, but Machina and Miichan just weren’t coming back.

Could have something happened? A bit worried, I was about to go check on things with Nazuna, whereupon the two of them were talked to by a couple of guys near the beach house.

Guess they were hitting on them? Miichan seemed a bit frightened while Machina, standing before the guys and covering Miichan, said with a firm attitude.

“Sorry, but we have no time to play with you. Our friends are waiting for us. Please move aside.”

“Could that friend be a guy? Is he more handsome than me?”

“Yes, tenfold.”

Machina instantly replied with composure while Miichan peeked out her head from behind Machina and firmly nodded a “Th- That’s right” in agreement.

“Certainly, you might be handsome, but Shinobu-oniisan is far more wonderful. Shinobu-oniisan has the face of a killer, but he is really cool!”

“Just as Miichan said. Shinobu has eyes that say he’ll slaughter all three of you— wait, isn’t calling him a killer going to far? At least say he’s a yakuza!”

Making a follow up, Machina showed her usual combination of going with the flow and then retorting, but to be honest, it wasn’t a follow up at all.

As a matter of fact, upon hearing the disturbing words “Killer”, “slaughter all three of you” and “Yakuza”, the guys turned pale and ran away.

Amidst that, Miichan’s eyes were sparkling for some reason as she took Machina’s hand.

“You are amazing, Machina-san. So cool. I respect you.”

“Eh? What’s up with you so suddenly, Miichan?”

“I mean, no matter how often you get hit on by guys, you don’t flirt back, you don’t get frightened and you don’t get bashful. You just keep your dignified behaviour. That is wonderful. I admire that. From now on I will call you ‘Machina-oneesama’!”

“…M- Miichan, that’s embarrassing, so please don’t. At least make it ‘oneesan’—wait, don’t cling to me all of a sudden!”

Being hugged by Miichan, Machina got seriously embarrassed.

These two might have an unexpected affinity for each other..

Having that impression, I lowered my voice and declared to Nazuna.

“Nazuna, your killer older brother, who has eyes that say he will slaughter three guys and works for the yakuza, will go scowl at the setting sun alone. Don’t pay me any mind and play with the two of them.”

“D- Don’t get depressed, Brother. Cover your scary appearance up as ‘wild’!”

“…Mh, even if you add ‘wild’ to ‘scary face’, I don’t think it becomes all that favourable. I would have liked it if you had made a follow up on my appearance…”

I felt a bit sorrowful, but it would be bad if Machina got hit on again, so I stopped my joke and swiftly headed for the two with Nazuna. Then we all played together on the beach until the sun set…

* * *

At night, like the schedule said, a barbeque was held at the courtyard of the inn.

I was left in charge with grilling the meat, so I diligently did so, when a few girls from class approached me.

“Nanjou-kun, some meat please.”

All together their opened their mouth and begged me adorable.

Going with the flow, I joked “You damn carnivores!” and plunged the meat into their mouths.

I felt like a mother bird feeding her chicks. It was kind of fun, but the girls must have been either really hungry or just hyped up from the trip, as gradually more and more girls gathered and each demanded with an “Ahn~”.

…To be honest, it was rather embarrassing. I shouldn’t have gone with the flow.

Reflecting on my actions in my heart, I hyper continued to grill the meat.

“Nanjou-kun, give your teacher some meat too please.”

“Yes, come in, Hiiragi-sensei. Please eat it careful, since it’s hot.”

Giving some meat also to Hiiragi-sensei,

“Brother, Brother, me too!”

“Shinobu-oniisan, for me too please.”

“…What are you guys doing here? Hurry up and get back to your own place. This store doesn’t serve middle schoolers.”

I fed the “Ahn~”ing Nazuna and Miichan some meat while cautioning them, when now Hijiri suddenly showed up.

“Shinobu-kun, could you give some to me too?”

“Ohh, Hijiri. Especially for you, I’ll feed you mouth-by-mouth.”

“…Eh? I, I don’t really mind, but everyone is looking, so let’s go over there—Hauh!”

It was a joke, so before she could say anything strange, I stopped her by putting the meat into her mouth.

After that even Minami came by, opened her pretty, pink lips and raised one hand.

“Nanjou-kun, I’m next!”

“Huh? You were here, Minami? What do you want? Beer? Or Shochu?”

“Nanjou-kun’s wiener! No, I mean, Nanjou-kun, wiener!”

“Don’t make such a misleading mistake! What if someone gets the wrong idea? Here, as your ordered, one wiener!”

“Yahn! S- Such a thick one won’t fit into my mouth!”

While retorting, I thrust a wiener into her mouth, whereupon Minami raised a strangely erotic voice.

…Why was she this erotic? Actually, I was sick of all the “Ahn~”s already. I hoped anyone would switch with me…

Such thoughts crossed my mind, when I heard a familiar voice.

“Shinobu-sama, please give me some vegetables.”

“Roge—wait, Kaorun!?”

When I raised my head, Kaorun stood in front of me.

“Why are you here?”

“Actually, I attend the same school as you, Shinobu-sama. The maid turns out to be your senior. I will treat my junior kindly. Even you, Shinobu-sama, should be unable to hide your excitement from this development.”

“Nah, no need to hide it. Don’t tell such an obvious lie. Hurry up and answer my question, why are you here?”

“I was hungry, so I came here to eat— is the joking half of it and truthfully, I came to assist Hijiri-chan.”

Assist? Ah, with the job…

Understanding, I fed Kaorun some vegetables and told her softly.

“But you aren’t a student from here, so be careful that you don’t get caught.”

“Do no worry. When the teacher asked for my name earlier, I could fool them by saying ‘I am class 2-4 Nanjou Shinobu-sama’s maid. I am taking care of my master here’. Now then, Shinobu-sama, I should get back to taking peeping shots— I mean, taking pictures of Hijiri-chan.”

“…Hey, wait. What nonsense are you telling the teacher? How are you going to take responsibility when my stocks slump?”

“At that time, I will buy up all of your stocks, Shinobu-sama.”

“That’s an awful way to take responsibility.”

When I inadvertently protested, Kaorun lowered her head a bit and pulled out a digital camera from her pocket.

“I certainly feel a bit ashamed now, so later I will send you the data of the sneaking shots, no the peeping shots— and I mean peeping shots that I took of Hijiri-chan in her swimsuit.”

This maid openly declared that she was taking peeping shots…

“Shinobu-sama, please enjoy Hijiri-chan in her swimsuit to the fullest. You can enlarge them or alter them in any way you want. As a bonus, I also will add a sexy shot of myself. I would be enlightened if you used that too.”

“Don’t be stupid. Besides, peeping shots are a crime. I can’t really appreciate that.”

That was my official stance, but in reality I wanted to see them, so

“Hand these pictures over for a bit.”

I swiftly snatched away the digital camera from Kaorun’s hand.

“Ah, you cannot, Shinobu-sama! Please do not look! No!”

“So you say, but you actually want me to look. Take care of the grilling for a while, Kaorun.”

Turning my back to the flustered opposing Kaorun and taking a distance, I displayed the data of the digital camera.

Upon that, just like Kaorun had said, the camera was showing Hijiri in her swimsuit, but I could also confirm Machina, Nazuna and Miichan in their swimsuits.

Still, the pictures I displayed, I realized that there were more pictures of me, rather than Hijiri and the others.

“…You were taking peeping shots of me too.”

“I merely considered selling them at a high price to Luna-sama. That really is all to it, so please do not pay it too much mind.”

“I see. You’re a sneaky one, Miss Vile Merchant. Keep up with taking pictures of Machina and the others as well. It’ll be a good memorial. Also, keep grilling the meat in my stead.”

When I asked her with some drama line, Kaorun shrugged her shoulders wearily.

“You certainly work people hard, perverted Lord Governor. Well, depending on the compensation, I would not mind taking up that inquiry.”

“Compensation? My smile isn’t enough? You vile Merchant aka Pervert Maid.”

“It is far from enough. Neither my body or heart will be satisfied with such a fake smile. Please try again.”

I had shown a refreshing smile, but I was shut down by Kaorun.

“Well then, I’ll pet your head, which you love so much. That should be fine, right?”

“N- No way it is fine! I will not act on such a compensation! Please do not ridicule me! I am going now! Farewell!”

Kaorun turned bright on a rare occasion, as I probably made her angry, and turned her back to me. Huffing, she went away. Apparently negotiations broke down….

“…Should I take over the grilling for you now?”

While watching over Kaorun’s back, Asada approached me with a single sentence and took over the grill duty. Then I was munching on some meat, when Minami, holding canned juice in both her hands, called out to me.

“Nanjou-kun, good job. I brought you some juice. Here.”

“Oh, thanks.”

I was grateful, since I was thirsty at the moment. Minami held orange canned juice in her right hand and white peach in her other, so I reached out for the white peach one and smiled.

Minami was so considerate. She had kindly opened the pull-tabs on both cans and her breasts were big— wait, her breasts didn’t matter here.

I made a self-retort in my heart and put the can onto my mouth.

Instantly, Minami laughed “Fufu” roguish.

“…Hey, what’s up with that weird laughter? Don’t tell me, you poisoned it? Or is it an aphrodisiac? Geez, you’re such a coward. You’re mistaken if you think you can do anything to me due a mere aphrodisiac.”

“Kukuku. Strong words, but your body is being honest. You already falling for me hard— Not! I didn’t put either poison or an aphrodisiac in it! Besides, I wasn’t making a weird laughter! I just, thought it’s, an indirect kiss…”

“Huh? An indirect kiss? You’re saying, this was your juice?”

“Yeah, that’s right. We had an indirect kiss.”

When I asked timidly, Minami smiled with her cheeks faintly flushed.

“S- Sorry for just drinking it.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it and drink it all. …I drank from both juices anyway…”

I got the feeling she exposed something unbelievable with a quiet voice, but since she had offered it.

“Thanks.”

Cladding myself in composure, I put the juice onto my mouth again, when

“Hey, Nanjou-kun, let’s not leave it at an indirect kiss now and… do a direct kiss?”

“—PFT!”

“Kyaa!”

Because Minami told such a strange joke, I snorted the juice out of my mouth with attitude in surprise.

As bad as it was, right into Minami’s face…

“Geez, Nanjou-kun, say so before you let it out. My face is all sticky from your white stuff now.”

It’s because you say weird stuff. And stop with the misleading erotic phrasing— is what I wanted to retort strongly.

However, regardless of the circumstances, it was a fact that I did something awful to a girl.

A liquid mixture of juice and my saliva. That stained Minami’s pretty face white and gave her an indecent appearance that triggered unwanted delusions.

“Sorry. Wait a sec. I’ll wipe it right away.”

I immediately apologized to Minami and hastily pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket. Then I gently wiped away the juice on her face.

…To be honest, I was rather surprised.

Even if only through the handkerchief, I was touching Minami’s soft cheeks and her soft lips without permission, moreover I even reached out for her neck and collarbone.

Minami didn’t show any particular resistance, but I certainly was being over-familiar.

Returning to my senses, I stopped my hand and held out to the handkerchief to Minami.

“Sorry, but wipe the rest by yourself.”

“Ehh, you got all this on me, so take responsibility by wiping it all. Here, it even got onto my chest. Hurry up and wipe it.”

“…Still no teaching from your office, I see. Just what are you saying to a boy?”

“Mh? I don’t really mind. So properly finish it, okay?”

Sweetly saying, Minami took my hand to hurry me and smiled seducing.

Just what should I do? Was it okay to wipe her breasts like she had told me? But it was her breasts. The huge breasts rumoured to be F-cups. If I carelessly touched them and end up fondling them on reflex, I wouldn’t be able to make any excuses. I was worried over my crumbling reasoning…

“Nanjou-kun, if you leave it soaked like this, it’ll turn into stains. Hurry up.”

Not knowing my feelings, Minami raised up her voluminous breasts with one arm and urged me.

…At this rate I might do something unbecoming for a gentleman. When I pondered how to get away from Minami, Machina, holding a paper plate, appeared from wherever, then got between the two of us.

“Give me that.”

With these words, Machina snatched away the handkerchief from my hand and wiped away the juice on Minami’s chest with a soft-touch.

Machina might have been watching our situation. She gave the troubled me a helping hand, but for some reason Machina said with a dissatisfied frown to Minami.

“Geez, I already have my hands full with just Hijiri, so why are even you trying to seduce Shinobu.”

“Eh? I wasn’t really seducing him. I just made a sexy appeal.”

“…Instead of sexy, isn’t it more like erotic?”

“Th- That’s rude! I’m not erotic at all! Even Nanjou-kun thinks so!”

“No, you’re plenty erotic.”

I declared without hesitation, whereupon Minami dropped her shoulders dejected.

“That’s mean, Nanjou-kun. Even though I tried so hard, because you said you liked a sexy girl…”

“Minami, it’s not really that I like sexy girls. I just like turning a sexy leopardess into a kitten with my charms.”

“…That’s kind of detestable.”

“Nanjou-kun, so cool…”

On my joke, Machina showed a weary expression, but in contrast to that, Minami showed a spellbound one.

It was a reaction like Nazuna would give. Actually, wasn’t Minami basically affirming my words like Nazuna quite often? To begin with, when did I ever tell her “I like sexy girls”? I didn’t remember that at all.

There I mentally inclined my head, when Machina approached me and presented me the paper plate with something like fried noodles on it to me with a smile.

“Shinobu, I made some fried noodles. Try it.”

“…Let me ask just in case, who did the seasoning?”

“Me, of course. I’m confident this time.”

“I’m kind of scared and kind of looking forward to it, yet again I’m scared…”

From one crisis to another. Machina was bad at cooking, lethally so. When I previously ate the curry-like thing she made, I fainted on a single bite.

If possible, I would like to avoid eating it. But if I were to turn her down, Machina would without doubt be hurt. I had no other choice but to eat this…

“I, I’m digging in.”

I took the chopsticks from Machina, whose eyes were brimming with anticipation, and determined put the fried noodles look-alike into my mouth.

“How’s it? Good?”

“…It looks terrible, but the taste is even worse.”

“Eh? No way!?”

“Ah, no, just kidding! I was just lying! It’s surprisingly good, yeah.”

The taste was so awful that I had ended up saying the truth, but Machina became teary on a rare occasion, so I hastily revoked my statement. Once more I put the fried noodles look-alike into my mouth.

I was sure she gave her best in making it. I was disappointed in the taste, but happy about the fact that she cooked for me. Also, compared to the dish from before, this was kind of eatable.

Though that only applied to me, since I had eaten snakes or frogs when I was stranded on a mountain with my grandfather. Any normal person would have problems with this.

But well, it was a fact that Machina got better at cooking. With this progress, there might come a day in the near future, where Machina completely masters how to cook.

Dreaming of that day, I said to myself “Machina’s cooking is good. I, It’s good, right? Yeah, it’s good, I suspect.” and continued to eat it.

Meanwhile, Minami made a worried expression the whole time and Machina also had smiled at the beginning, but as soon as she saw that a cold sweat broke out on my forehead,

“Shinobu, let me try it too.”

Machina made dubious expression, as she probably saw through my acting, and snatched away the chopsticks from me. Without time to stop her, she put the fried noodles look-alike into her mouth.

Instantly, Machina staggered and fainted—nearly. I hastily caught her and shouted.

“Hey, Machina! Hang in there, don’t fall asleep! If you fall asleep now, you might die!”

When I slapped around her cheeks, Machina opened her eyes weakly.

“….Mmh? Where am I? Who am I?”

“You’re at the courtyard of my mansion and you’re my maid. Say ‘I’m a maid that loves her master very much, meow, meow♪‘ like you always do“

“I understand, Master. I’m a maid that loves her master very much, meow, meow♪ wait, why are you rewriting my memory on your own! Actually, the heck is up with the dish!? For a moment, I saw my later mother! Who made this dish!?“

Machina shouted enraged, as her memory was in turmoil due to the shock of the dish.

Slowly reaching my hand out to Machina, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Machina, this might be cruel to tell you now, but I have to say it. This fried noodle look-alike was made by no one else, but you.”

“Im- Impossible!?”

“…Could it be, you’re still confused?”

When we talked like that, Minami suddenly pulled on my sleeve jerkily.

“Mh? What’s up, Minami?”

“Ehm, well, I’m also a maid that loves her master very much, meow, meow♪“

Colouring her cheeks pinkish, Minami said, mimicking Machina.

“Th- That’s so lovely.”

Involuntarily I ended up being smitten…

After the barbeque, I moved to the lobby of the inn. Sitting down on the sofa, I pulled out my cell phone. With the intend to talk with Luna and Elni for a bit, I called home.

Upon a few rings, I could hear Luna’s lively voice.

“Hello, Nanjou Residence here. Who am I speaking with?”

While I thought that Luna’s voice was pretty as ever, I suddenly felt prankish. Disguising my voice, I asked with an outlandish voice.

“Hehehe, Missy, what kind of panties are you wearing right now?”

“…Eh? I am not wearing any at the moment.”

“PFT!”

Snorting in surprise on the unexpected answer, I inadvertently relapsed into my own voice and shouted.

“Wh- What do you mean! Are you really not wearing any!?”

“Ah, so it really was you, Shinobu-san.”

Leaving my surprised self aside, Luna continued with her lively voice.

“I just came out of the bath and dried off my body, when the phone rang, so I immediately took it, thinking it might be you. And then I heard a voice that resembled yours, so I…”

That meant, right now Luna was just clad in a single bath towel? When I pictured that on reflex, Luna suddenly raised a “Kyaa!” scream. Following, I could hear her flustered voice saying “Elni-chan, please give back the bath towel! And please give back the receiver too! Otherwise I cannot talk with Shinobu-san!”.

Judging by the situation, Elni had noticed that the call was from me. I was sure she snatched away Luna’s bath towel and even the receiver.

…In other words, if my assumption was right, Luna was butt naked right now.

“Elni-san, Elni-san! What’s going on on your end!?”

“Yes, the reporter Goddess Elni here. A few days ago, when I crossed the pedestrian crossing… a taxi came to a halt. It was really awkward.”

“You should just tell the taxi driver ‘To the other side of the pedestrian crossing please’! Anyway, hurry up and tell me what’s happening!”

When I asked her urging, Elni’s reply came along with the sound of footsteps running down the hallway.

“At present, Luna is chasing me, whose on the run with her bath towel and phone, naked. Luna’s big breasts are bouncing around widely. Should I take a picture with my cell phone and send it to you, Shinobu?”

“Yes, please— wait, no. Tell Luna to put on some clothes already or she will catch a cold.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Elni obediently consented. She called out to the nearby Luna.

“Luna, Shinobu said ‘I can’t make a proper conversation, since the thought of Luna being naked excites me so much. I always end up picturing Luna’s breasts. So hurry up and put on some clothes.’.”

“…Hey, Elni, don’t dramatize my gentleman line into something a boy in puberty would say!”

“Don’t fret it, Shinobu. Luna nodded an ‘I understand’ with a bright red face. All well in the end. Besides, you really were excited, weren’t you Shinobu?”

“Hehehe, nothing I can do when you already saw through me.”

To cover up that she had hit the bulls-eye, I once again disguised my voice and asked Elni with an outlandish voice.

“By the way, what colour do your panties have, Miss?”

“The strength of absolute victory—- Ultra Shocking Pink!”

“…That’s quite extravagant. Feeling pink?”

Answering the nonsense with nonsense, I returned to myself and retorted, then leaked a sigh and changed the topic.

“Just to tell you, we all got here safely. How’s it going on your end? Any changes?”

“Nope, no changes. I’m all energetic. Today I took a nap with Luna in your bed. Since Luna was using your pillow, I used Luna’s breasts as a pillow. It’s really pleasant to sleep on Luna’s breast pillow.”

“I want that pillow!”

“Mh? Well then, should I ask Luna? Luna just came back from putting on clothes, so I’ll ask her. Luna, Shinobu wants your—”

“Stop, stop! I was half-joking, so don’t take it serious. Also, switch the phone with Luna!”

When I flustered cut into Elni’s words, she leaked a slightly sad voice.

“…Shinobu, you’re not extending your time?”

“Sounds like I would need to pay for that, so I’ll pass. It’s time to switch over to Luna.”

“I see. I’m afraid I can’t do anything then. Well then, Shinobu, look forward to tomorrow.”

“Mh? Tomorrow? What are you talking about?”

“A secret. But you certainly will be surprised. Good night, Shinobu.”

Elni left behind some words that made me curious and switched over the phone to Luna…or so it was supposed to happen, but strangely enough, Luna wouldn’t take the call.

What was up? When I inclined my head, I suddenly heard a sexy female voice through the phone.

“Hey boy, I heard you got excited over imagining me naked? Fufu, you bad boy. But that is cute as well. Hurry up and come home. For you, boy, I will show all of my perverted sides <3” “Who are you!? What happened to Luna!?” When I raised an unusual voice, the person on the voice replied embarrassed. “Ehm, that was me, Shinobu-san. I tried saying that on Elni-chan’s suggestion. What do you say? Were you surprised?” “…O- Oh, it was you. To be honest, I was rather surprised. My heart was about to start beating from the surprise! By the way, that lame joke was told to me by Elni in the past.” While saying so, I took a deep breath in my heart to calm down my feelings, then I told Luna that we arrived safely, that Machina learned to swim and that even Kaorun was here. For a while I spoke with her. Then I brought the conversation to an end with “Tomorrow I’m going to buy souvenirs. Look forward to it”. “Good night, Shinobu-san. Please look forward to tomorrow as well.” Luna said the same thing as Elni. “…Somehow, Elni said the same stuff, but is something happening tomorrow?” “Ehm, that is, well…” For some reason Luna faltered, but then she suddenly raised an “Ah” as she remembered something. “Sh- Shinobu-san, suddenly the voice network became bad. It is full of noise and cannot hear anything. I do not understand what you are saying, Shinobu-san. I am sowwy!” Saying so, the phone was hung up. “…sowwy, huh.” She was in such a haste that she bit onto her lips. Kind of cute. I was a bit concerned about tomorrow, but I would understand at that time. …Now then, I should go take a bath. Renewing my spirit, I stood up, when I suddenly spotted Minami walking down the lobby. Apparently Minami just came out of the bath and her cheeks were sexily flushed. But, she seemed to be in deep thought, as she made a serious expression and had her hand rested against her chin. She didn’t notice me and was about to pass by, so “Yo, why the serious face?” I called out to her myself. Upon that, Minami faced me, changed her expression into a smile and came closer. “You see, Nanjou-kun, I just heard a weird rumour…” “A weird rumour? Reminds me, the guys in class rumoured that your breasts are a F-cup…is it about that?” “Huh!? How do you know--- wait, no. Who’s spreading such a rumour!” “Who knows? I have no clue.” If I were to tell her the truth, my friend the Pervert would suffer greatly. I quickly feigned ignorance, whereupon Minami made a faint sigh. “…Just so you know, the rumour I heard is different from yours, Nanjou-kun.” Reminding me like that, Minami sat down besides me and continued by changing her tone into a serious one. “I heard it from the girls in our class. You know about that woodland path near the inn, right? Apparently there are ruins at the end of it and… they often seem to appear there.” “Perverts often do? I think they just mistook Asada there.” “Why would Asada be there so frequently!? That’s even scarier and completely off the mark!” After denying strongly, Minami cleared her throat with a cough and opened her mouth. “Let me continue. Apparently some people did a test of courage at these ruins and when they came back, they all said ‘There was a ghost’ together with pale faces. Somehow, I couldn’t get that out of my head…” “Oh, you scared?” “Well, I am… but you know, Gogyou-san spoke about it before. That there might be a devil hiding. You guys said it was from a game, but Gogyou-san disappeared somewhere while we played together today. It’s kinda suspicious.” “Really? You’re overthinking it. Hijiri just went to see her older sister.” “Older sister?” “Yeah. The older sister loves the younger one very much and with her sister-complex she wanted to play with Hijiri, so she came all the way here. I was also surprised when I met her earlier. Actually, there’s no way devils exists to begin with.” With a cold sweat breaking out in my heart, I brushed it off by telling a lie with a bit of truth. Instantly, Minami turned red and covered her head with both her hands. “…I made a weird misunderstanding again. So embarrassing! I can’t be a bride anymore! You take me, Nanjou-kun!” “I decline.” “Geez, don’t reply right away and give it some thought, Nanjou-kun. I’ll give you lot of freebies.” When I nonchalantly replied to her joke, Minami took a sexy pose and shook her huge breasts. Averting my eyes from these voluminous breasts, I shrugged my shoulders and stood up, turning my back to Minami. “Don’t be stupid and hurry back to your room. ‘Take me’ isn’t something you should say so easily, even as a joke.” “It wasn’t even… easy for me… I tried so hard… -chan….won’t…” Suddenly a really small voice sounded. Following, I felt a warmth on my back. I noticed right away that Minami had hugged onto me. However, that embrace was kind of forlorn and I could feel through my back that Minami was crying. I carefully tried to find words to say. But confused by this all so sudden incident, no words came up at all. At that moment, “Fufufu…” Breaking the silence, Minami suddenly laughed strangely, then changed her embrace into a playful one. “You let your guard down, Nanjou-kun! It was extremely careless of you to leave your back wide open. I won’t let go now!” “…There.” “Hyan.” I could easily shake off Minami with her limited strength. Not playing along with her joke anymore, I mustered a bit of strength to loose Minami’s embrace and got away from her.

“See you tomorrow.”

With my back still to her, I coolly waved my hand and left the place in an escape…

* * *

From there I returned to my assigned four-person room and chatted a bit with the guys, then lay down in my bed and fell asleep.

However, late at night when everyone was asleep,

“…Your sleeping face really is cute.”

I noticed someone saying that while gently petting my head and was wide awake. With my consciousness still a bit hazy, I rubbed my eyes and opened my mouth.

“Mmh? Who’s there?”

“It is me. I am the Sun’s Komachi. An Angel. Your ideal maid, Shinobu-sama.”

“Kaorun, huh…”

When I straightened up my upper body and faced her, there amidst a soft orange illumination—Kaorun looked at me peering.

“What’s up so late?”

I asked with a yawn, whereupon Kaorun slowly brought her face closer and answered.

“It has to be this late… for me to climb through my sweetheart’s window.”

“Huh? You came all the way here to tell me that joke?”

“I am not telling you a joke.”

Suddenly bringing her face even closer, Kaorun smiled enticing and continued.

“Previously I told you, Shinobu-sama, that it would interfere with Hijiri-chan’s yin-yang technique if you stayed weak against females. And that I would help you get used to a woman with my own body. Well, therefore I will kiss you now.”

“Let me kiss you before. C’mon, close your eyes. I’ll give you a romantic one-night stand.”

“…Please do not try to escape by saying dainty words. You have no reason to worry, Shinobu-sama. I will gently take the lead. Okay now, let me take off your clothes.”

“Hey, wait. Stop. Think of where we are. What if someone wakes up?”

When I tried to get away from Kaorun’s warm and soft fingertips, Asada, sleeping in the bed besides, got up abruptly. As soon as he saw Kaorun, he shouted in surprise.

“UWAAAH! A MAIIID! A peverted maid is night assaulting Nanjou!? How enviable—”

During his words, Kaorun crossed the distance between her and Asada in mere seconds. Then she got behind Asada and got him in a sleeper hold. In a few seconds he lost consciousness.

“Sweet maid dreams.”

Along with a finisher remark, Kaorun pulled the blanket over Asada and slowly turned around.

“Shinobu-sama, here are too many hindrances, so I will postpone the night visit to some other time.”

“Then I’ll make sure to properly lock my door next time.”

“You certainly are free to do so, but that is going to prove pointless because of my lock picking skills.”

“How naïve. We have a watchdog called Mad Dog at our house. If you do anything funny, she’ll bite onto you.”

When I threatened her with a bold smile, Kaorun bit into her lips frustrated.

“Kuh! So that is what it means to be bitten by your pet dog.”

“Hey, that’s rude. When did Elni become your pet dog?”

“No, it was just a mischievous joke. Anyway, I will now get to the real issue at hand.”

“Real issue?”

“Yes. You made a request to me at the barbeque, remember? Like you have requested, I have taken pictures of Machina and Nazuna-sama. Therefore please pay in advance.”

…I didn’t think she really would take on my request. But I was sleepy, I rested my cheek on my pillow and lightly waved my hand.

“Sorry, but wait until tomorrow. I’m sleepy.”

“Please do not say that, Shinobu-sama. I am tired from my work. I want to ease this tiredness. Please, just for a little while.”

“I am afraid that the English gentleman that you requested is already off-hours. We sincerely await your visit to the shop tomorrow.”

While closing both my eyes, I replied with that, whereupon Kaorun suddenly started to talk with a bewitching voice.

“Ahhn! Master, you really love bottoms. That is too forceful. Please be more gentle. Yahn… Uhn… Nooo!”

“Fufufu, your mouth says that, but down here you’re already—wait, no! Don’t make weird voices here! You just want me to pay, right! Okay!”

I hastily straightened up my upper body and shut Kaorun’s mouth. Then I got out of the room together with Kaorun. Moving to the lobby, I sat down on the sofa. There, for no apparent reason, Kaorun naturally sat down on my lap.

“Well then, Shinobu-sama, please pay up.”

“Well, I’ll pet your head, but stop acting like Elni. Hurry up and get off.”

“Please do not mind it, Shinobu-sama. Please accept me with your male broad-mindedness.”

She sure was unreasonable. The sensation of Kaorun’s soft bottom, her sweet fragrance and the feeling of her body warmth made me nervous by all means. But, I just shrugged my shoulders and accept her actions with my male broad-mindedness like she had said.

Then Kaorun leaned her back against my chest and said in a somewhat happy mood.

“I really worked hard, you know. I took pictures of Machina and Nazuna-chan enjoying the barbeque, perfectly caught their bathing scene on film and even snuck into their room earlier to record their sleeping faces.”

“…Hey, midway it perfectly turned into a crime. I didn’t want you to go that far. What if the police had caught you?”

“I would have promptly bribed the officer at that time. Of course with photos of you in your swimsuit, Shinobu-sama.”

“…Hoh, that’s quite the brilliant plan. Even if it’s a police officer, upon seeing me in my swimsuit, one cannot help but say ‘Oh, what a great guy’.”

It was too much of a pain, so I abandoned my retort. When I replied perfunctorily with another yawn, Karoun suddenly turned around and opened her mouth while slightly glaring at me.

“Shinobu-sama, at this point you should have retorted with ‘What are you adding bribing along with peeping shots to your crimes for!’. What is the point of replying to my nonsense with your nonsense? Right now, you are just like Elni-sama.”

“…I don’t really want that.”

“Hehehe, your mouth says no, but your body is being honest. It has gotten like this already.”

“No, nothing’s gotten like this. Just what of me became like what?”

Returning to my self, I asked wearily, whereupon Kaorun suddenly pressed her warm palm and well-formed ear against my chest. Smiling roguish, she answered.

“Your heart is beating so fast, Shinobu-sama.”

“Because you’re so pretty, Kaorun.”

Instantly, Kaorun’s cheeks turned red. Most likely the stuff about the bathing peeping shots were a joke. I slowly reached out my hand for the head of the bright-red Kaorun. I continued with a soft tone.

“Whenever you have time tomorrow, please keep taking pictures, Kaorun.”

“Th- That depends on your payment. Shinobu-sama, Please hug me tightly and gently now. After that please kiss my cheek.”

“…My hugs and kisses are expensive.”

“I will pay with my body.”

“You can’t. Control yourself.”

“Yes.”

When I said so strongly, Kaorun nodded obediently to my surprise.

For a while then I continued to pet Kaorun’s head, but she suddenly got away from me and opened her mouth with a slightly serious expression.

“…There is something I would like to ask you, Shinobu-sama. May I?”

“Mh? My three sizes are a secret.”

“I know these already, so that is fine.”

Saying something unbelievable outright, Kaorun asked with her expression still serious.

“The other day when you visited our house, you mentioned that you are interested in the exorcist training, correct?”

“Yeah. I also told you that I’m still wea—”

“You are not weak, Shinobu-sama.”

Softly cutting into my words, Kaorun continued quietly.

“Back then, it looked to me like you were obsessed over becoming stronger, so I was a bit worried and as rudely as it may be, I allowed myself to look into your matters, Shinobu-sama…”

Momentarily stopping her words, Kaorun showed a bit of hesitation, then opened her mouth again.

“I do not know why you are so particular about strength. Shinobu-sama, at your age you already have countless matches with other schools and stayed undefeated in official matches. I dare to say that even Hijiri-chan would be no match for you, if not for her exorcist skills. Despite all that—Even though you are plenty strong enough already, why are you insisting so vehemently on becoming stronger?”

“I don’t really insist on it. I just want to get stronger to protect my precious people. That’s all.”

“…Is that really all to it?”

Frowning a bit, Kaorun looked straight into my eyes.

Her eyes were filled with worry and I couldn’t avert my eyes from them. …That was no good. If she was worried like this, my heart faltered. I thought about fooling her, but it seemed pointless. I confessed with a sigh.

“…My earlier words weren’t false. I really want to protect my precious people. But, that’s not all. I just…can’t forgive my weak self.”

—Sorry, Shinobu-chan. It’s all my fault.

Suddenly a childish voice sounded in the back of my brain.

Before I noticed it, I had strongly clenched my fist.

“In the past, a girl got hurt because I was weak.”

At the crucial time, I was unable to tell her anything in the end…

“…I don’t ever want to experience that again.”

While feeling a pain in my chest, I squeezed out these words, when suddenly my body was enveloped by something warm and soft. I was bewildered. Kaorun was embracing me. It took me a few seconds to realize that.

“Ehm, what are you doing all of a sudden?”

“Well, as thanks for petting my head, I just thought about petting your head as well, Shinobu-sama. Do no let it bother you.”

Kaorun answered my timid question indifferent as ever. And then, just like she had said, she started to pet my head.

A warm feeling got transferred through her palm, but I feigned ignorance and faced sideways.

“…Uhm, it’s hot, so could you get off?”

“Does your tsundere know no limit!?”

Kaorun raised a surprised voice, but didn’t remove her hand from my hand and declared in a gentle tone.

“Good grief, I am well aware how shy you are, Shinobu-sama, so just obediently let your head be petted now.”

“…Yeah, okay.”

Having my head gently petted by Kaorun, the pain in my chest dissolved softly. However, only the childish voice of the girl was stuck in my chest and wouldn’t leave…

Share