Published at 21st of July 2021 6:54 am

Volume 11, Chapter 03: Sorry, everyone…

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Escaping from the lonely room she was shut in, the little girl went on a trip. She thought that she would make a new family from now on. She believed so.

The normal everyday life she had always yearned for. This time she wouldn’t make her precious people cry. Never. She didn’t want to make them cry, yet in her memories, all her precious people were always crying.

Therefore the girl cast aside her precious people she had made at some point, suddenly disappearing from their sight with just leaving a thanks.

All the people, touched by her smile or enveloped by her kindness, had become strong. Even the boy who was called a failure. Even the crying woman. Even the man who wouldn’t laugh. They became so strong that they could live on alone now, even without the girl. So the little girl set out on her journey with a peace of mind.

And when the girl left, everyone cried loudly. But the girl knew. These tears wouldn’t continue on forever. Soon enough they would smile again. They would remember her smile too. That was enough. As long as she had memories with everyone, as long as everyone was smiling, she could keep on living with just that.

…It’s okay, I’ll be fine.

Convincing herself like that, the girl wanted everyone to remember her smiling face, so the girl kept enduring not to cry and went around all kind of places in the world, ignoring her own wish.

During that, only one boy looked for the girl without giving up. He kept chasing after her, finally shedding tears.

“Tell me why… Elni.”

The boy’s voice didn’t reach the girl. The pouring rain, the rain the girl had hated, washed away the voice of the boy while he stood just there crying his voice out…

* * *

A carefree walk home after school on a Friday. As usual, Machina was busy with work of the student council, so I went home alone after I dropped by the bookstore. Opening the front door, I raised my voice with “I’m home”, whereupon not Luna appeared straight from the living room, but Elni’s smiling face.

Reminded me, she said during breakfast that she was only going to work until noon today at the nursery school. I got the feeling that Luna said something about picking her up then, but oh well.

Elni peeked her face out. As soon as she noticed me, her cheeks flushed into a light pink and she came rushing over like a dog that found his master, clinging to me with a bright smile.

“Welcome home, Shinobu! It was cold outside, wasn’t it? What’s my present today?”

“The fact that I returned safely with a smile. That’s the best present.”

“Yeah! Right! I’m happy too about your smile too!”

Regardless of me joking back to her joke about a present, Elni snuggled up to me like a spoiled cat. Sure, Elni was usually adorable, but was she ever this charming? While I got a bit agitated, Elni brightened her smile and continued.

“Listen, Shinobu, tomorrow is a holiday, so I’m going stargazing with Hijiri and Kaorun today after dinner. You’ll come along, right?”

“Of course, but speaking of, you already said that after the game tournament, didn’t you.”

But even without specially using her winner privilege, the girls would accept a normal invitation too, wouldn’t they? While thinking about that, I suddenly got bothered by something and made a casual question.

“Anyway, Luna unusually didn’t come to greet me, what’s up with her?”

“She’s having a special training in the living room. She’s really focussed on that.”

Special training? What was it? With my interest piqued, I headed for the living room at once, whereupon

“Hop~ Hop~♪“

Somehow, Luna was doing something weird in the very middle of the living room.

She waggled both her hands next to her head, probably mimicking rabbit ears, and was jumping right and left innocently. On a glance, she looked like a miss in a kids show.

However, every time she jumped, her voluminous breasts bounced to the left and right, swayed greatly and moved up and down jelly-like. Luna’s behaviour was incredible adorable and exquisitely erotic at the same time.

“The Rabbit looks at the moon with everyone~♪ Hop~ Hop~♪ wait, h- huh? Shinobu-san? Since when have you been there?“

“Just no, Bunny Girl. Hop~ Hop~” with that, I greeted her half teasingly, whereupon Luna quickly turned bright red and hastily shook both her hands, explaining.

“Th- This is a really popular game at the nursery school right now. When I picked up Elni-chan today, the boys called me ‘Cow woman’ and I thought I could get along with the children if I played a game together with them, so Elni-chan gave me special—”

“…Hop~ Hop~”

“Sh- Shinobu-san! Why are you laughing? Please listen properly!”

Luna turned even redder. It wasn’t good to tease her too much. But these shaking breasts. The kids wouldn’t call her “Miss Boobie” once she got along with them, would they?

While I feared that a bit, I casually shifted my gaze, whereupon there was a fancy bracelet laying on top of the heating table.

…I had seen a similar one before. Was it after the quarrel with the Old Man Bram during Machina’s student council election? I remembered Elni saying something about “It’s a charm that protects against a devil’s influence” and was making lots of them.

While I recalled that, suddenly the words of the Old Man’s words floated in the back of my mind.

—This time I wasn’t just indebted to you, but to Elni for various things as well. So I have to listen to a request of hers now. I’ll make it up to you after that.

—Be nice to Elni too. She’s a really… lonely girl.

Scraps of words that the Old Man told me after Machina’s election speech. Elni’s request to the Old Man. Until now, I had nearly forgotten about it. But I got the feeling that it was alright to forget about it. Elni had changed a bit recently.

Nowadays when Elni came home, she embraced Luna, who came to greet her with a smile. And when we came home, she welcomed us with a smile like Luna… and embraced everyone of us. I really believed that Elni had changed. Since the day I came to pick her up at the nursery school, she sometimes clung to me from behind. Just like right now.

After apologizing to Luna for teasing her, I got out into the garden and devoted myself to my martial arts exercises. During that, Elni brought my mother with her for some reason and both of them sat down on the lawn, closing their mouths and watching me in silence.

Elni’s silver hair fleetingly appeared in the corner of my vision. Bathed in the evening sun, that hair sparkled in a madder red and I was inadvertently captivated, so I stopped my exercise and turned my head around.

“Ehm, what are you two doing?”

“Mh? Watching your practice. You move really beautiful, so I don’t grow tired of watching it.”

“I think it’s you, who one can watch forever.”

While replying to Elni with partly true feelings, I shifted my gaze to my mother next.

“And you, Mom?”

“—Watching your practice. You move really beautiful, so I don’t grow tired of watching it.”

“What the? Imitating Elni? It’s not the least bit cute.”

I threw her some slightly harsh words as a joke, but surprisingly enough, she showed no signs of being angry and smiled faintly, turning her tone softly.

“But it really was a nice exercise. Both your moves and aura have changed. Until just recently, you tried to imitate your dad or grandfather, so you needlessly worked yourself up, which made your movements and aura stiff, yet now your shoulders are nicely relaxed. Like Elni had said… You might have grown stronger.”

Maybe Elni brought my mother here to show her my change. Hearing my mother’s words, Elni animated her voice proudly.

“See, just like I told you. Not so long ago I was a bit worried too, but Shinobu got stronger while keeping his kindness. Right now he’s really cool!”

“…You sure love Shinobu too, Elni.”

Widened her eyes a bit in surprise, my mother continued with a surprised “But”.

“I didn’t know you were worrying about him. Sure, it’s worrying how he’s always straining himself, but I’m more worried about Nazuna instead.”

“Yeah, since Nazucat has a lot of talent.”

Elni nodded agreeing with my mother. But I didn’t get it at all, so I doubtfully interjected into their conversation.

“Ehm, having talent isn’t really troubling, is it?”

“Of course it isn’t when it’s at a level, where you can enjoy looking at it. But when you see talent that takes your breath away, most people tend to draw a line with the word ‘Genius’, get envious of what they don’t have and selfishly hate or resent that someone, even though they don’t know the troubles behind it.”

I got the feeling that I somehow understood the meaning behind Elni’s words.

“And the opposite is even worse. Once they only see your talent, admire you and want to catch up, you can no longer be friends. You won’t be family anymore. You’ll be a lonely deity.”

…Lonely. Sadness filled Elni’s words. My mother, as that made her recall something, clouded her expression a bit with a sigh.

“My husband told me in the past: ‘I kept running ahead without knowing the weakness of others… and before I knew it, I was all alone.’ Just like my husband, Nazuna is needlessly strong, yet so frail at the same time. A strength that doesn’t go along with weakness is only dangerous…”

“Tomoe-san, Nazucat will be fine though.”

To deny my mother’s worries, Elni let her tone brim over with feelings.

“Nazucat knows of other’s weakness. She even knows the meaning of strength. She’s always been watching you two. Seeing Shinobu’s small back growing bigger before her eyes, she’s thinking that she wants to become like that too, isn’t she?”

Softly shifting her gaze towards me, she continued her words with “Besides”.

“Nazucat has you by her side, Shinobu. So she’ll be fine. It may be that you’re envious of her too. It may be hard to see a talent in Nazucat that you don’t have. But you won’t come to hate her. You’ll always be her big brother. While that’s only natural, it’s also something quite amazing, in my opinion.”

Like praying for someone else’s growth,

“…It’s limitless if you look above or below yourself. What’s important is the middle. To look at yourself. You were able to do that, Shinobu. You learnt how to do that…”

Still facing me, Elni smiled affectionate with “So I’m really happy”.

—What’s important is the middle. To look at yourself.

—You’re fine as you are, Shinobu.

Elni’s words right now overlapped with the feeling that Machina conveyed to me the other day… I could finally realize my own change. Most likely I had been able to move on my heart from my father and grandfather, who I had been so fixated on, and finally take a look at myself.

Probably due to that, my mother suddenly stood up from the lawn and looked at me.

“You really have changed. I also had some training to a certain extent, so I could somewhat tell by seeing your exercises just now. Without me knowing… you have become even stronger than me. I knew this would happen, but I’m surprised how fast it happened…”

Still looking at me, my mother filled her tone with warmth.

“Actually, ever since you returned to your grandfather’s doujo, I always thought that you would definitely become strong. That you would surpass me one day and become even stronger than your father.”

“…I never expected these words. I mean, I vented my anger about my own weakness on you. So why did you have such expectations for me…?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Coming closer to me, my mother declared strongly.

“Because you’re my son I’m so proud of.” with these words, my mother peacefully reached out her hand and started to gentle pet my head. Proud, happy… and pleased about my growth.

Her hand was really warm. I remembered being petted like this as a kid. I was a bit embarrassed, but without forcing myself away from her, I recalled the old days, whereupon Elni suddenly said “…Having a mother is nice” isolated from over on the lawn where she was watching over us.

“Somehow, when I looked at you, Tomoe-san, I was reminded of my mother again. Though my mother wasn’t as strong as you, was clumsy and didn’t keep her promises…”

With a soft and radiant dearness,

“But she really resembled you, Tomoe-san, in the way she smiled gently, was easily moved to tears and loved her own child.”

Contrary to her boasting intimation,

“She was a really good mother. So I wanted to make her smile more, instead of only making her cry. I wanted to get my head petted like Shinobu…”

Contrary to her unwavering tone, I could only sense sadness from her expression. And seeing Elni like that, my mother slowly got onto the lawn.

“Hey Elni… Your mother’s already gone?”

“Yes. She died while crying. It happened a long time ago.”

Elni showed an indifferent smile, but she trembled her voice, whereupon my mother nodded a “I see…” quietly, slowly reaching out her hand towards her.

“Elni, if you like—”

Then it looked like my mother was going to tell her something important, but Elni hastily raised a “Ah!” voice, as to suddenly change the current atmosphere, then stood up with attitude for whatever reason.

“Argh! Flashlights! I forgot to tell Kaorun about it!”

A voice way too loud for a monologue. As it was either really important or due to my mother’s clouded expression, Elni acted brightly with “I’ll call her” and right away went from the lawn into the house. Her back at that time looked really small for some reason…

Right after dinner, Elni rushed through the open door of the living room with “A mail from Hijiri! They’ll come pick up us with the car now!” and her cell phone in one hand, probably returning to her room. Then she returned wearing a coat and holding a plastic model in her hand now.

However, as soon as Elni declared everyone in the living room “I’m going stargazing with Shinobu, Hijiri and Kaorun!”, she hurriedly rushed to the front door while still smiling.

Using her winner privilege from the game tournament, Elni made a promise to go watch the stars tonight with Hijiri and Kaorun. I was going to tag along too, but it hadn’t even been a minute since Hijiri’s mail arrived. They wouldn’t be here this far, would they?

But I was sure that she couldn’t suppress her anticipation. I thought that I should wait together with Elni for Hijiri and Kaorun then, so just like Elni, I went to the front door after I put on my coat in my room.

It must have been the plastic model she had been holding earlier. Elni put up the model on top of the shoe locker at the front door with a smile and I casually looked at it.

“Reminds me, that’s the one you wanted to present Machina the other day, but got rejected?”

“Yeah, so mean, right? I mean, it’s so cool. But it’s fine. From today on it’ll protect the Nanjou Household’s front door. Because I graduated from being a personal guard. I’m busy with my job at the nursery school. It’ll be the successor to Mad Dog.”

Elni touched the plastic model really gentle, yet a bit sad for some reason with “I’m counting on you”. On the other hand, I shifted my gaze to the model on the shoe locker again and knitted my eyebrows a bit.

For Elni’s successor it got a rather unsociable face…

…We really might need flashlights later on.

As we were at the foot of a mountain right now, it was still only half-dark. The lights of the cars that passed by sometimes were appreciated too. But the trees besides the trail would probably block off the light from the stars while we aimed for the top of the mountain, making our footing dangerous.

Still, I knew we were going stargazing, but I wouldn’t have expected to take place on top of a mountain. By the way, I heard about the mountain climbing when I waited with Elni for Hijiri and Kaorun.

That said, Hijiri surely heard it from Elni beforehand. She properly wear jerseys fitting for walking on a mountain path. But as for Kaorun, even though we were going to climb a mountain now… she was wearing her usual maid clothes for some reason.

A bit worried, I pointed out “Isn’t a skirt too risky?”, but Kaorun said some nonsense of “I am a perfect maid, so it is alright” with a strangely convincing tone. With her driving, we sat in the rocking car for various minutes. After parking the car at the parking lot near the foot of the mountain, we right away headed for the mountain trail leading the top.

During that, Hijiri and I each got a flashlight, as Elni and Kaorun apparently brought a couple with them, then we started our mountain climbing together. Elni, the vanguard, excitedly proceeded with swift steps and Hijiri, following after her, warned her reserved.

“Elni, it’s dark here, so it’s dangerous to hurry too much.”

“I’m used to the mountains, so it’s okay. Besides, I came here a lot in the past. I’m confident that I can reach the top with my eyes closed! Since it’s a straight path!”

“Ah, Elni! It’s really dangerous if you run! Please slow down a bit!”

Even while warning her, Hijiri rushed after Elni, who had fallen in a small jog. Before I noticed it, I had been left all alone with Kaorun.

“…To be together with you, Shinobu-sama, in a place like this makes me feel in danger.”

“That’s what I should be saying, Perverted Maid!”

“No, no, I have all the right to say it. This is you we are talking about, Shinobu-sama. Surely you take advantage of the darkness to push me down forcefully while saying ‘Hah, Hah. These two won’t be back for a while. What do you say, Kaoru, let’s use this chance to make some bonding between Master and Maid. No one’s looking now’—”

“Kaorun, sorry to interrupt your fun, but I’m going on ahead.”

I was a bit worried about Hijiri and Elni. For now I ignored Kaorun’s delusions, whereupon

“…Shinobu-sama, you will not be able to be this cold for long.”

After showing a somewhat sulking expression, she grabbed the hem of her skirt with one hand, fleetingly illuminating her beautiful legs with the flashlight in her hand.

While the alluring light poured on her long legs and soft and white thighs, Kaorun directed a lascivious smile at me with “Does it excite you?”. But I suppressed my true feelings and along with the behaviour of smoking a cigarette, I cracked a cold smile with “—And?”.

In that moment, Kaorun started to get sulky right away.

“What kind of reaction is that? That is way too cold. What do you think I went out of my to wear these maid clothes for? It was all to please your maid fetish, Shinobu-sama!”

“Say what? I don’t really have a maid fetish, you know? More importantly, shouldn’t we hurry after Elni and Hijiri? I’m worried about them.”

“…Even though you are all alone with me, you are only thinking about Hijiri-chan and Elni-san. Ignoring the maid, I see. Fine. If that is the attitude you want to take, I have an idea.”

Huh? Was she pouting? Or was it her usual joke?

I couldn’t really tell with Kaorun. While I was a bit bewildered, she turned her back to me, put one hand on the trunk of a nearby tree and took a posture of lightly pushing out her bottom.

…What was up with this sexy pose?

I was a bit doubtful, whereupon Kaorun, whatever she was thinking, slowly pulled up the hem of her skirt with her free hand while still pushing out her bottom towards me, and my vision fell onto well-formed hips clad in bewitching black panties.

“…H- Hey, stop it, Kaorun. What’re you doing?”

“Fufu, it does not excite you being with me, right? Just ignore me with your cigarette play again like earlier.”

Indifferent to my agitation, Kaorun smiled at me bewitching and pushed out her bottom even more to show it off to me.

Her defenceless exposed hips. While shaking them lascivious to the left and right and bouncing them up and down, Kaorun faced me teasing.

“If you are willing to apologize for your cold attitude, Shinobu-sama…”

Sexily stopping her words, Kaorun continued with a long breath.

“this older girl here will make you feel real good with her bottom.”

Pretty much like putting on some kind of performance, Kaorun let her waist writhe. Matching to her movements, her plump hips trembled lovely like pudding as if they were tempting me.

“Please hurry up and apologize. Then I will let you fondle my bottom. You are allowed do whatever you want with my bottom, you know?”

Drawing fascinating circles with her voluminous bottom, Kaorun lightly flushed her cheeks.

“Shinobu-sama, I guess that I should take off my underwear too, right? Then you will understand my charm better, right? Would you be kind enough to… please take off my panties?”

A bewitching sweet mumbling. A lascivious glance with sexy flushed cheeks. On top of that, the light of a car, randomly passing-by nearby, brightly illuminated Kaorun’s seductive acting.

It was possible that it was a prank. It was Kaorun after all. I got the feeling she would tell me “Please do not take my joke seriously. I will report you.” with a straight face if I screwed up.

However, my reasoning was disordered so much that I could no longer retort. Surely her bottom had a perfect tension and pleasant elasticity… No, no, not good. When I unconsciously couldn’t remove my eyes from the beautiful bottom anymore, an unexpected sound of a branch breaking resounded rather loud through the surroundings.

…I felt someone’s presence. As Kaorun noticed it too, she stiffened her expression in no time and together with her, I faced the direction the sound came from, whereupon my worry came true.

In the field of our visions were Elni and Hijiri. Elni made a somewhat awkward face, whereas Hijiri was half-crying. And seeing that, Kaorun hastily fixed her attire and pitched up her voice a bit due to her agitation.

“Ehm, since when have you two been there…?”

“…I’m sorry, Kaoru-san. I didn’t know at all that you two were in such a relationship. I came back worried about you, but I guess I interrupted you. Sorry!”

“No, no! You have the wrong idea, Hijiri-chan! I was just playing a joking prank! Shinobu-sama was so cold, so I just thought that I would make him understand the charm of an older girl!”

Hijiri turned around and ran away with attitude. Kaorun hastily chased after her. In regards, Elni, somehow guessing the circumstances from Kaorun’s words, wordless rested her hand on my shoulder in sympathy.

However, to think such an happening would occur before we even got to stargaze…

I was about to leak a sigh, but around the time I reached the top of the mountain in chase of the two girls, Hijiri’s misunderstand was already resolved and Kaorun had returned to her usual composed self, so my earlier sigh completely turned into a long breath.

On top of the mountain. There spread a manmade plaza void of any trees, as they had been cut down. And above us spread the fascinating starry sky. This was amazing…

It was completely different from what I had been looking up to before. Stars as far as you could see in all four directions and no other lights. I felt like I could touch the stars if I reached out my hand and was floating in the air myself. It might be an exaggeration, but it was like I was out in outer space.

It surely was the same for the others. Hijiri looked up to the stars with sparkling eyes and Kaorun leaked a spellbound breath in an usual agitation. Still fascinated by the starry sky as well, I sat down on the spot for now.

There the nearby Elni cheerfully sat down in my lap and nodded satisfied. Seeing that, Hijiri shifted her gaze away from the starry sky and timidly opened her mouth.

“Uhm, Elni, why are you doing something so enviabl— *cough* why are you sitting down there?”

“You need to ask? Because Shinobu’s lap is my special seat.”

“Yes, indeed. Shinobu-sama’s lap is Elni-san’s special seat, Hijiri-chan.”

“Kaoru-san agreed readily!?”

While Hijiri widened her eyes a bit, Kaorun clung onto my arm so that her beautiful breasts were rubbing against it as soon as she sat down on my left. And following Kaorun’s lead, Hijiri too pressed her comfortable breasts onto my right arm with a soft touch, albeit reserved. Moreover, I felt the sweet elasticity of Elni’s bottom on my lap.

Receiving all these sensations, a great agitation started to gradually grow in my heart and I fell silent from the nervousness, whereupon Kaorun said isolated while we all watched the stars.

“…Seeing such a pretty and broad starry sky in front of my eyes seems to make my worries appear so trivial.”

“Your worries? Oh? You mean how you make others worry?”

“Yes, forgive me for always worrying you with my worrisome body— is what I would like to say, but to my regret, that is not the case.”

As really had something to worry about, Kaorun dropped her voice a bit.

“I believe that I already told you about it a while ago, but soon a new maid will come to our household. Most likely that person will live with us starting next year. But actually… I am a bit worried.”

…The new maid, huh. Like Kaorun had said, I had heard about it before.

The head of the Gogyou Household, Sougo-san had decided to hire a new maid, so that Kaorun could concentrate on studying, since she was allowed to attend university together with Hijiri. However, Kaorun somewhat clouded her expression, as something was worrying her, and I called out to her as soft as possible.

“Kaorun, I’m always there to listen to your worries. If you want, I’ll help you out.”

I hope that I could cheer up Kaorun even a bit. With that in mind, I told her my feelings, whereupon

“…Then I will consult with you during the winter break, Shinobu-sama.”, giving only these profound words, Kaorun fell silent, as she didn’t want to say more, and once again started to gaze at the stars. While we others followed her lead, Elni suddenly started to look alternating at Hijiri and Kaorun’s face.

“Hey, you both look really happy, but could it be, it’s your first time here?”

“Yeah. This wonderful place is a first for both Kaoru-san and me.”

“Sougo never told you about it?”

“My father? No, I don’t think so… Why so suddenly?”

Not replying to Hijiri’s question, Elni smiled faintly with “…He’s so virtuous” and continued.

“You know, this is a memorial place to me and actually my treasure. So I wanted to show it to Shinobu and… give my treasure to both of you, Hijiri, Kaoru.”

“Kaoru-san and me? Are you sure? It’s your treasure, right?”

“Yeah, since it’s you two. I love you both, so I want to give it to you. Besides, Sougo told me about this place, you know?”

Gently narrowing her eyes yearning, Elni looked up the stars once again.

“’Elni, this place was my one and only treasure. But it’s different now. I don’t need this place as a retreat anymore. So I’m giving my treasure to you, Elni. I won’t tell anyone else about it. It’ll only belong to you. If you ever want to pass it on to someone like me, then don’t hesitate about it’— That’s what he said to me.”

“My father said such a thing to you?”

Even while widening her eyes a bit, Hijiri opened her mouth remembering with “Reminds me,”

“When we first met, you knew about exorcist and that the Gogyou Family uses flames to exorcise. Did my father tell you all that?”

“Yeah. Because we’re friends. He even taught me how to use talismans. He’s a really precious friend and in the past I listened to some worries of his, so when I met you, Hijiri, and came to know that you’re his daughter, I was actually really happy.”

Once again facing Hijiri and Kaorun, Elni showed a bright smile.

“The once so lonely Sougo now has two wonderful daughters. I also heard that he got a cool son. So I think Sougo will be happy and able to smile from now on, even without me… It made me really happy.”

Conveying her heartfelt feelings, Elni softly rested her small hand on Hijiri’s shoulder.

“Your father resembles Shinobu a bit. Even though he was continuously called a failure, he’s a strong person that never gave up, kept working hard and became the head of the Gogyou Family.”

“…My father, a failure?”

“I bet you didn’t know. But strong as he is, Sougo will be reliable. So when you succeed the head position of the house, Hijiri, I’m sure Sougo will always help you if you’re in trouble.”

While smiling, Elni stared at Hijiri.

“You tend to take things upon yourself, Hijiri. Rely on others in difficult times, okay? You have Shinobu, Kaorun, Sougo, Luna and the others by your side. If you’re too reckless yourself, Shinobu will be angry, you know? Be careful from now on, okay?”

“Fufu, I don’t want Shinobu-kun to get angry, so I’ll do as you say, Elni. I’ll properly rely on others. Thanks for worrying about me, Elni. But why are you telling me that all of a sudden?”

“Somehow I was remembering the past, so I wanted to say it.”

Pretty much like overflowing with emotions, Elni brightened her smile, then slowly shifted her gaze to Kaorun now and changed her tone into a very kind one.

“You have a changed a bit from when I first met you, Kaorun. I think you have become more charming. You smile more often now and I really love seeing your smile.”

“I am grateful already for the words alone, but the fact that I could change is thanks to you as well, Elni-san.”

Not joking around like usually, Kaorun’s tone was really peaceful.

“Do you remember that time, Elni-san?”

“Mh? What time?” with that, Elni titled her head, whereas Kaorun softly replied with “I mean the summer vacation” and continued her words while smiling brightly.

“I ran away from my exorcist training, got sheltered at the vacation home of Shinobu-sama’s grandfather and we watched the fireworks of the festival. After that I spoke about my mother and you recommended me to go see my mother.”

…Kaorun was with the exorcist organisation ever since she could remember. For a long time, she was treated as a tool by the organisation and believed that her own mother had abandoned her.

Elni urged her to go see her own mother.

As she was remembering that time, Kaorun turned her gaze back to the starry sky.

“I still remember all the words you have told me even now, Elni-san.”

With still a peaceful tone, she repeated Elni’s words.

—Humans are bound to die one day. You don’t know if that will happen tomorrow or in a year. This might sound extreme, but you might not ever see her again if you don’t meet her tomorrow. If you have something to ask of her, it’s better that you hear the truth from her mouth.

You also have Hijiri. You have a proper place to return to, Kaorun. Don’t pay any mind to what others say. Just believe in Hijiri’s words, that you are her family—

Dearly retelling the sentiment she had received, Kaorun smiled like a blooming flower.

“Thanks to your push on my back, I mustered the courage to meet my mother. In fact, I came to understand various things by talking with my mother, which allowed me to change a bit, in my opinion. Back then, I was occupied with myself, so I could not say it until now, but…”

Slowly stopping her words, Kaorun smiled at Elni.

“Elni-san, thank you so much for pushing my back and taking on this hard role, even though it brought you close to tears. I am really happy to have a wonderful person like you as my friend. I also love seeing your smile.”

“…If you’re happy, Kaorun, that’s all I need. Because you’re my precious friend too. Even while you’re joking around, you’re supporting the others from the back. You’re working hard so that everyone has fun. I’m the one thanking you, Kaorun.”

Elni’s expression… was a bit different from usual.

Different from her usual bright smile, her expression with an intimate faint smile and her eyes narrowed, looked somewhat mature.

Keeping that expression, Elni slowly stood up from my lap, reached out her hand and declared gentle while petting Kaorun’s head.

“I hope that one day you can fawn on your own mother, Kaorun. I’m sure she’ll be happy… if you properly call her ‘Mother’.”

Elni’s heartfelt words. I got the feeling that a small envious was resounding within them. However I had no time to ponder about it, as Elni widely spread both her arms, then tightly embraced Hijiri, Kaorun and me, blossoming a smile like a flower like that.

“I’m glad I came here today with you all. I’m really glad I could present this to Hijiri and Kaorun. I love all three of you.”

It was a short embrace. Elni let us go right away, turned on her heel and then spun around with both her arms spread like dancing under the starry sky.

“This is kinda nice. I’m really happy.”

Elni kept dancing under the broad sky.

Animating her voice, she danced relaxed and really brilliant…

Her every single move looked really adorable to me. I wanted to watch the dancing Elni forever. Surely Hijiri and Kaorun felt the same as me.

Both of them had their mouths closed, showed a soft smile and watched over Elni. What I felt in my chest at this time was a really common, cheap happiness. However, I considered it something very precious, so

“—Let’s come here together again, Elni.”

Like making a promise, I declared so to Elni.

But as my voice didn’t reach her or she pretended not to hear it, Elni didn’t gave a reply. Instead, she clung to me again after her charming dance, not letting go that easily this time…

* * *

The winner privilege from the game tournament. It was the day after Elni used it without hesitation to go stargazing with Hijiri and Kaorun. Since it was a holiday, Elni took the train to the city two stations away early in the morning with Luna, Machina, Nazuna and me in tow.

In that city, stopping by the cinema, enjoying some karaoke…

…Spending the day together without doing anything special, it was just a common holiday.

But it might be something incredible pleasant. From time to time, Elni took pictures of us with her digital camera, not breaking her smile even once. But time went by in no time while we played around together, and sadly enough Luna had a shift in the evening, so we regretfully parted with her, then visited a cat café near the station with the remaining members.

With Luna gone, we others entered together, whereupon all kind of cats were roaming free inside the café. On the right was the space for tables. On the left were tools to play with the cats. It mostly was a place, where people came to play with cats.

For now I got us a table and while Elni talked with the Miss from the reception with the digital camera in one hand, the cat-loving Nazuna obviously sparkled her eyes, but so did Machina, who was a surprising animal lover too.

“Meow, meow!”

“Meow, meow— *cough*. Hold it, Nazuna. No running in the café.”

Nazuna dashed away in a happy mood. Machina got hooked on by her for a moment, but then played the older sister along with a cough. But Nazuna couldn’t hold back her excitement and got along with two nearby cats right away, whereas Machina too hurried over to the cats with a smile. However,

“Eh? H- Huh? Why?”

Strangely enough, the moment Machina came closer, most of the cats quickly left the spot.

Most likely Machina considered it only a coincidence at first. Still smiling, she once again approached the cats, but they all escaped and seeing that, Elni spoke to the nearby cats with “Meow, meow” for whatever she was thinking.

Upon that, the cats too meowed like replying to Elni, making it seem like a conversation. No, not seem like, they actually might have a proper conversation.

…Reminded me, during summer vacation, when we took care of my friend Asada’s dog Momo, Elni said something about “I’m a Goddess! Of course I can talk with animals!” while having a happy conversation with the dog.

When I remembered about that time, Machina dropped her shoulders and came back in downhearted state.

“Hey Shinobu, none of the cats are playing with me. Why’s that? I mean, they’re all over Nazuna. Did I do something to make them hate me?”

“W- Well, what can I say…”

Unable to find words to console her, I was stuck for an answer, whereas Elni seemingly finished her talk with the cats. She held a three-coloured cat against her chest and then softly called out to Machina.

“Machina, I think this one will play with you.”

“…Really? She won’t run away or hiss at me?”

“It’ll be fine. She seems interested in you.”

Elni gentle handed over the cat with “Hold her” and Machina held the cat against her voluminous chest in a doubtful state. Upon that, the cat didn’t run away, just like Elni had said, and happily snuggled up to her, so Machina’s expression brightened up instantly.

“Shinobu, can we take her home?

“…Don’t lay hands on the shop’s girls.”

Well, I could relate to her, but I advised Machina lightly and sat down at the nearby table.

Machina still held the three-coloured cat against her chest, whereas Nazuna came back with three cats in tow and both girls sat down at each my sides. By the way, Machina started to purr an adorable “meow, meow” together with Nazuna, as she was happy that the cat had warmed up to her. As for Elni, she pulled out the digital camera from her pocket again and took pictures of us with a smile.

…I should let her show me the pictures later on.

When I thought about that, a cat with white fur came trudgingly over to me and started to purr happily, so I softly picked up that white cat.

…This reminded me of our own cat Kagari. But she was the rather jealous type, so she might get angry about me touching another cat like this.

While I was reminiscing about our own cat, the cat I was holding brought her face closer and licked my cheek silky. Ohh, just like Kagari’s, her tongue was rough. Getting nostalgic, I tickled the cat under the chin for now, whereupon Machina looked over for some reason, puffed up her cheeks a bit and softly pushed the cat I was holding aside, then

“…*kiss*… Mm…”

Not only did she suddenly kiss me near my mouth, she also imitated the cat and licked my cheek reserved. Ohh, quite different from the cat. Her lips were so soft that my heart was about to be stolen. The smooth tip of her tongue. While I was about to get intoxicated by these sensations, I hastily opened my mouth in surprise.

“M- Machina, what’re you doing in public?”

“…Just some physical contact.”

For that, her cheeks were rather red and she faced sideways somewhat sulking.

There Elni took a break from taking pictures and faced Machina with a giggle.

“Fufu, Machina got a bit jealous of the cat.”

“Yes, because she did something enviable to him— wait, what’re you saying out of the blue, Elni! I’m not jealous or anything! Don’t get the wrong idea, Shinobu!”

“…Yeah, I know. It’s okay, Machina. I understand everything.”

“What’s with that plastic face! You don’t get it at all!”

Exposed after all, huh. Unable to hold back any longer, I burst out in a laughter, whereupon Machina turned bright red while repeating “I’m not jealous or anything” just in case. On a spontaneous look during that, all cats within the shop were gathering at Elni’s feet for some reason.

Each of the cats raised a meow, which looked pretty much like they wanted Elni to play with them. But Elni scratched her cheek with the digital camera in one hand and replied to the cats with a bittersweet smile.

“Mhm~ Sorry, but I’m busy with my pictures right now. If you want to play, go to Shinobu or the other— wait, Uwah. What’s up so suddenly? Hey, stop it.”

Not listening to Elni’s reprimand, the cats got on Elni’s shoulders and head one after another and the circle of cats gradually grew bigger…

A truly heart-warming scene. At some point, the other customers were chasing her with their eyes too and Nazuna, who had only eyes for the cats so far, shifted her gaze to Elni, animating her voice with a smile for whatever she was thinking.

“Hey Elni-chan, Machina-oneechan, we’re actually keeping a cat at our house too, you know? She’s called Kagari-chan. She’s with dad on his business trip right now, but I think she’ll come back for the new year, so I’ll introduce you then.”

“…I hope I won’t get hated.”

“It, It’ll be fine. Sure, Kagari-chan gets angry when some unknown girl gets along with Brother, but as long as you don’t cling to him or kiss him, you’ll probably be fine.”

“Th- That’s not fine at all! So when that cat comes home, she’ll get angry every time I or my sister cling to Shinobu or kiss him, right?”

Instantly clouding her expression, Machina turned teary with “I’ll definitely get hated!” and Nazuna quickly averted her eyes, shifting her gaze towards Elni for help.

“O- Oh, right. Elni-chan, you can talk with cats too, right? So could you mediate between Machina and Kagari-chan once she gets home?”

“Well, I don’t mind…”

Nodding somewhat enunciating, Elni started to take pictures again midway in her sentence to dodge the question. On the other hand, I felt doubtful, but looked at Elni’s digital camera to change the topic.

“…It might be too late, but are you even allowed to take picture here?”

“Fufu, no problem, Shinobu. I properly received permission from the Miss at the reception earlier.”

Elni made a V-sign as if to say no worries. Speaking of, when we entered the café, she was talking with the Miss from the reception about something. Elni was surprisingly clever…

A bit surprised, I looked at Elni’s digital camera again.

“Still, you’re taking a lot of pictures lately. I guess you’re really mimicking Kaorun?”

“…Guess so. Kaorun said so as well, memories fade easily. But if you keep them in the form of pictures, you can see everyone’s smile any time. So with these pictures, I can already…”

Just what… would follow after these words? Elni closed her mouth and smiled somewhat sadly while dearly stroking over her digital camera.

…At that time, something suddenly felt amiss. But no one noticed it’s true character, nor paid any attention to it and after enjoying the cat café to the fullest, we left the café together.

However it might have been not enough for her. Elni suddenly invited us with “Let’s play some more” and urged by her, we went to a arcade center or window shopping… We enjoyed the holiday more than enough.

During that, only Elni was being reluctant about returning home and tried to play together with everyone as much as the time allowed it, as if today was the last time to do so.

Moreover, after we got home, Elni started to prepare dinner together with Machina and Nazuna instead of Luna, who had left for her part-time job. Furthermore, after dinner Elni now played a video game in the living room together with Machina and Nazuna, staying near everyone unnaturally often today.

While seeing her like that, that small amiss feeling I had earlier at the cat café gradually swelled up and after I got out of the bath, I headed to the living room to check upon the others.

Upon that, there were Elni, Machina and Nazuna on the sofa in the living room. They must have been tired from playing around. Machina and Nazuna were nodding off, whereas Elni gave them a lap pillow.

Elni started to affectionately pet each their heads, which pretty much made her appear like their older sister.

…I felt bad about disturbing them. I was about to close the door at once, but

“Listen to me like that, you two. I have something important to tell you.”

Suddenly Elni’s gentle and serious voice resounded. Inadvertently I stopped my hand that had grabbed the door knob. Elni peacefully narrowed her eyes and slowly spun her words.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to live in the human world from now on, Machina. So you can be at ease. Be more honest to yourself. Act more spoiled. Everyone should allow it. But make sure to return the favour in some way, when you act spoiled, okay? Just remember that.”

“…Yes… I understand… But today… you’re kind strange, Elni…”

As she was already half-asleep, Machina replied quietly with her eyes still closed, whereupon Elni smiled softly and then shifted her gaze towards Nazuna.

“This is just a guess, but do you want to become like Shinobu, Nazucat?”

“Yeah… That’s right… Because Brother is so cool… I love him…”

“Then watch him even closer than you have until now, Nazucat. Your horizon should broaden when you see the weakness, kindness and strength of someone without talent.”

“That’s rather… complicated… I don’t really get it…”

“You don’t have to get it for now. But please don’t forget it. You have a talent that Shinobu lacks. Even so, the world of a genius is rather narrow and frail in a way. I’m sure you’ll be fine, but if you want to become truly strong, you can’t avert your eyes from Shinobu, okay?”

“Meow…” with that, Nazuna replied quietly while slowing drifting into the dream world, whereupon

“…I have to properly tell it to Luna too…”

Mumbling something with a small voice, Elni opened her mouth while petting their heads again, and started to sing with a warm voice. It was a lullaby from another country. It was a soft melody that seemed to envelop everything. A tone overflowing with dearness that erased my bewilderment and unrest.

Before I noticed it, I had been befuddled by the singing voice and I stood stock still partly absent-minded, whereupon the lullaby ended in time and Elni came into my direction, raising a hysteric “Uwah!” voice as soon as she saw my face in front of the door.

“You surprised me. Since when have you been there, Shinobu? Were you eavesdropping?”

“Ah, no, well… Sorry.”

“Mhm~ No! Today I won’t forgive you, even if you apologize. As punishment, you have to help me carry Machina and Nazuna. If they sleep there, they’ll catch a cold.”

Being told that, I followed Elni’s gaze, where Machina and Nazuna were sleeping soundly together on the sofa. Sure, we couldn’t leave them like that and the punishment Elni spoke of surely was meant as a joke. But the lullaby was affecting me even now and I was still kind of absent-minded while I carried Machina and Nazuna one after another to their beds together with Elni.

After that was done, Elni said “I have to clear it today” to herself and swiftly returned to the living room, as she was planning to continue the video game.

In regards, I watched her leaving, then returned to my own room and lay down on the bed.

…The words Elni told Machina and Nazuna earlier. They sounded just like parting words and the unrest, which had vanished once, came back. Could it be, Elni was still…

Every time I thought so, my unrest grew larger. But it wasn’t certain. It was possible that I got the wrong idea. It should be alright as it was… I took my time to calm my feelings, then I looked at the clock on the wall of my room and slowly straightened up my upper body on the bed.

Soon Luna would return from her job. Without doubt then, Elni would go greet her with a smile. I wanted to see that close by, so I left my room and headed for the living room, whereupon I ran into my mother midway.

My mother was holding a photo album against her chest and I asked slightly curious.

“…Are you going to send dad our pictures?”

“No. These are the pictures Elni took. She asked me to develop them.”

“Hee, is that so…”

Still, even if she was mimicking Kaorun, I didn’t know that Elni took enough pictures to fill a whole album. While I gave a short agreeable response, my mother clouded her expression a bit for some reason and turned on her heels, heading to the living room, as she wanted to hand the album to Elni. I followed after my mother, whereupon now Elni was sleeping rolled up on the sofa.

She probably was just as tired as Machina and Nazuna. My mother and I looked at each other and quietly approached Elni while smiling faintly.

“Hey Elni, if you sleep here, you’ll catch a—”

Suddenly my own words inadvertently vanished into the air. Most likely my mother had noticed the abnormality too. We both closed our mouths and were at a loss for words.

We had thought Elni was simply sleeping. But that wasn’t it. She was having a terrible nightmare and lightly trembled her small body.

“…I’m sorry, Mom.”

Along with bitterish words, tears started to run out of her closed eyes and unfamiliar names spilled out of her mouth one after another. And for every time, Elni repeated an apology.

Sorry, Sorry… She repeated that with a cracked voice over and over.

From bewilderment and confusion, both my mother and I held our breath, unable to do anything, and Elni helplessly puttered around in the air with her own hand while making noises during her nightmare. My mother quietly grabbed that hand, whereupon Elni closed her mouth relieved from the warmth on her palm.

“Good. There you are.”

Tightly squeezing back my mother’s hand, she faintly opened her eyelids.

“Mom, I had a scary dream. Everyone was…”

With her sadly rocking eyes, she was surely looking at something else than here. Her crimson eyes finishing the sad slumber,

“Ahh—”

Elni’s eyes waking up from the dream, quickly lost their colour.

“…..I see. Everyone’s already gone.”

Together with a voice void of emotions, it seemed that her heart creaked noisy. No more words followed. Not even a crying voice came out of her opened mouth, just tears spilled endless out of her eyes… Elni cried silently. But probably because she was in front of us.

She tried to smile to cover it up, but failed and failed over and over and over again with a distorted expression— Unable to endure it, I tightly embraced her.

…Elni has a light sleep. She has trouble falling asleep. She’s often crying in her sleep.

Suddenly Machina’s words floated in the back of my mind. Certainly, when Elni first came here, she had been crying in her sleep too. She had kept weeping while calling out unfamiliar names like just now.

But because she had smiled brightly like always, because she had behaved so in front of everyone, I might have forgotten about it until now. And while I had forgotten it, Elni had been crying like this all the time?

Thinking so, I increased my squeeze onto her.

“…Cry it out, Elni.”

Even while my arms that held her trembled, I squeezed out these words.

“You don’t have to smile all the time. You don’t have to hold yourself back. You can cry in front of us. We’ll always be with you, so… don’t cry by yourself anymore.”

My feelings that I desperately conveyed to her. My arms holding her tightly. How much of my words did reach her in my arms? Without saying anything, Elni entwined her arms around my back. But her arms were really powerless and after a short embrace, Elni stopped crying right away.

“Ah, already this late!”

Unnaturally shifting her gaze to the clock on the wall of the living room,

“Luna’s coming back soon. Today I’ll go greet her in front of the house!”

Obviously changing the topic, Elni got away from me, passed by my confused mother and rushed out of the living room in an escape.

…Surely it wasn’t like my feelings didn’t reach her. I believed that they were properly conveyed. But Elni properly refused to accept them?

Bit by bit my unrest swelled up again. To suppress it, I pressed my hands onto my chest, whereupon my mother said isolated with a sigh after she watched off the leaving Elni.

“I knew she was strange lately, but in the end, Elni… is different from the others.”

“Different from the others?” with that I asked back, not understanding the meaning behind her words, whereas my mother knitted her eyebrows a bit and replied with holding out the album she was carrying.

“It seems this album is Elni’s new treasure. When she asked me to print out the pictures, she was talking about it happily. But I don’t really get it.”

Get what? Without asking that, I took the album from my mother and slowly turned the pages.

Upon that, starting from the time of the culture festival, the album was full with pictures like from summer vacation, Luna’s birthday, the previous game tournament and today’s cat café.

Ff you keep them in the form of pictures, you can see everyone’s smile any time— Just like Elni had said at the cat café, the smiles of our family and Hijiri or Kaorun filled the album.

But that wasn’t enough. I couldn’t really find the smile I wanted to see. My speed of turning the pages gradually became faster. Impatience grew in my heart and I kept searching by straining my eyes. But the result was the same. I just couldn’t find it.

“…Like you said, I don’t get it either. How is this a treasure?”

Succeeding on my shaking words, my mother continued really peaceful.

“Yeah, there isn’t a single picture of Elni…”

A whole album of smiles from everyone. Elni’s new treasure. Amidst that, only Elni’s smile, the supposedly important thing was sadly missing.

—In the end, Elni is different from the others.

Actually I started to get it. That amongst everyone, amongst our family, only Elni wasn’t part of it. But I was really scared… about knowing the meaning behind my mother’s words.

* * *

When I suddenly woke up, my body was kind of sluggish.

Probably because I didn’t slept much lately due to pondering about a lot. But despite having woken up earlier than usual, I just didn’t feel like going back to sleep.

…Could I do something until Christmas? Elni’s crying face wouldn’t leave my head. The album with just Elni missing. With the resurfaced unrest in my chest, I left my room and casually peeked into the living room, where Nazuna was despite it still being early.

As soon as she noticed me, she gave me the usual energetic morning greeting.

“Morning, Brother! You’re up really early today!”

“Well, I have some stuff going on…”

I gave a vague response, whereupon Nazuna opened her mouth a bit worried.

“Ehm, I don’t really get it, but how about we spar about a bit? I think it’ll give you a change of pace to move your body in some exercises.”

“…Yeah, right. Then let’s train for a bit.”

I should take up Nazuna on her consideration. To change my mood, I quickly opened the terrace door and was about to go out into the garden, whereupon I suddenly heard the chirping of birds.

The serene chirping of the birds. When I threw my glance over there wondering, the wild birds flew away with flapping wings, which was a somewhat wondrous scene.

Elni stood still in the middle of the garden. A few birds gathered around here and their numbers gradually increased. The wing flapping and chirping of the wild birds filled our garden.

…It was pretty much like a scene from a painting.

The birds weren’t begging for anything and might have just wanted to be near Elni. Elni mumbled something and reached out her hands, whereupon the birds fluttered their wings pleased.

With this mysterious scene in front of me, I forgot my words and held my breath, whereas Nazuna boasting said to me with a small voice, as she noticed my behaviour.

“You always wake up so late, so it’s your first time seeing this, right? Elni-chan sometimes wakes up earlier and then she plays with the birds like that. It must be wonderful to be able to talk with animals. Elni-chan’s really amazing.”

“Well, she apparently is a Goddess…”

I gave a somewhat stupid reply, whereas Nazuna continued with “Speaking of Goddess,” and a smile.

“The teacher taught us in class the other day that people with silver hair and red eyes like Elni-chan are called Albino. And that it’s said that Albinos were worshipped as a target of faith by the locals since ancient times.”

“Target of faith, huh. I think I read something similar in a book.”

“According to my teacher, I think it was in the southeast of Africa? There they believe that the body of an Albino host a special power. Also, Noah from Noah’s arc was also an Albino.”

…Noah’s arc, huh. It was the arc that appeared in the flood story of the bible. While recalling again what I read in the book, I shifted my gaze a bit surprised to Nazuna.

“But it’s rare for you to seriously listen to class.”

“Actually I thought it might be related to Elni-chan, so I was curious. But everything besides the Albino stories went in one ear and out the other.”

“…You’re going to have troubles with the test again.”

When I lightly rebuked her so, Nazuna hastily got back on the topic.

“A- Anyway, Brother, when I heard about the Albinos, I thought, is Elni-chan really a Goddess? That would be really amazing if so. A Goddess in our family, you know?”

Family… These normally happy words now evoked a pain in my chest, but I hid that and casually asked.

“Reminds me, you’re calling Luna and Machina with ‘Oneechan’, but you won’t do that for Elni?”

“…I want to, really, but I think it’s no good.”

Knitting her eyebrows a bit, Nazuna dropped her voice a little.

“Before, during Machina-oneechan’s student council election, Elni-chan said that she can’t become Machina-oneechan’s older sister, remember? So I too can’t become her little sister yet. I don’t really get why, but… it’s a bit sad.”

“Elni might be different than the others after all…”

Nazuna might have senses that too. But she considered Elni her family and believed that one day she would become her little sister, so she had used “yet”. At the same time I gave a short agreeable response, I breathed out and somehow renewed my spirit.

“Now then, we’re going to spar, right? Then let’s get started already.”

I dared to brightly urge Nazuna and together we slipped on our sandals, going out into the garden through the terrace door.

In that moment, the wild birds in the garden all at once got away from Elni in surprise as soon as they noticed us, flying away in an escape along with loud flattering of their wings. Amidst that, Elni waved her hands and said good-bye to the birds, then she showed us a smile.

“Morning, Shinobu, Nazucat. Today we’ve great weather, it’s nice. The perfect day to hang up your laundry.”

“You sound like a housewife.” While replying so with a casual tone, I faced Elni again. As expected it was the usual Elni like always. And we knew nothing of her. Machina had said something similar the other day.

We really didn’t know what kind of childhood or what kind of lifestyle she had so far. Just now Nazuna told me about the Albinos being targets of faith, but how was that related to calling yourself a Goddess? I wanted to know more about her, even if it was just a bit.

“Hey Elni, this might come out of the blue, but can I ask a question?”

Staring Elni, I opened my mouth with my mind made up.

“Why do you call yourself a Goddess?”

“…Because everyone desired it.”

“And who are these ’everyone’?”

“The people of my hometown, who I wanted to protect.”

A little vague answer. A soft tone. But Elni’s expression… wasn’t her usual smile.

“Because everyone desired it, I became a Goddess, no, not quite. It wasn’t everyone. Only one didn’t desire it. But I never noticed that and couldn’t made my most precious person smile… I’m really a useless Goddess.”

Lightly shrugging her shoulders, she smiled jokingly with “Stupid, isn’t it?”, but lightly trembling her shoulders, Elni turned her back to Nazuna and me. She surely wouldn’t tell us any more. Still keeping her back to us, she brightly changed the topic.

“Anyway, Shinobu, what’s up with you this morning? You’re up unusually early.”

“Yeah, I just happened to wake up.”

Even while I was a bit at a loss for words, I clad myself in composure and replied to Elni.

“But right back at you, you’re up quite early too.”

“Somehow I was unable to sleep…”

Slowing ending her words, Elni continued with a smile while turning around.

“Because today’s my last day at the nursery school.”

“…Your last?”

These words irritated my heart and I could tell that my face was becoming a bit stiff.

“Wait a sec, Elni. Why’s it the last? You only just got closer to the kids, right? Yet you’re planning to quit there?”

“Actually, I was downsized. Finally the recession hit me too— wait, jokes aside. Don’t make such a face, you two. It was on a short term anyway. I can’t stay for too long. Today… my duty ends.”

Elni clouded her expression a bit, whereupon Nazuna, having heard all of it, said with teary eyes.

“…You can’t continue with the job? You love the nursery school, don’t you? You said the kids are all cute and it’s really fun.”

“Yeah, right. But there’s nothing to be done about it. Anyone can take my place. The only thing I can do now is to give my best at behaving brightly, so that I can part with everyone with a smile. That surely is for the best.”

…Were Elni’s words only directed at the kids?

Suddenly a cold gust of wind blew like back then, which unsettled my heart. It felt like she was declaring a parting once again. I had thought she was able to change. I believed that we would become a family. But that might have only been a misunderstanding on my part.

Lately Elni had taught Machina how to cook, went stargazing with Hijiri and Kaorun and went out with Luna and us others… Maybe she did that to not have any regret left?

The unchanged Elni smiled in front of me. But I got the feeling that various emotions were hidden behind her expression and the pain in my heart gradually grew intense.

I could no longer brush off the resurfaced unrest in my chest…

While the evening sun shone through the windows of the dojo at Gogyou Mansion, a sharp noise of wind cutting resounded in the dojo and the various air bullets launched by Machina approached Hijiri with a howl. In regards, Hijiri used a talisman to blow away the shockwaves and took a attentive stance against Machina with her wooden sword.

With class over, it after school. On a rare occasion Machina had no work for the student council today, so she asked Hijiri, who had the day off from the Kendo club too, and now they were training in the dojo of the Gogyou Mansion like this.

—Be kind to everyone. Become strong enough to protect everyone. Then they’ll repay the kindness.

The teaching of Machina’s mother. Machina tried to become even a bit stronger to live up to it. Even right now, she was training with a serious expression together with Hijiri. As for Kaorun and me, we each watched over them from the corner of the dojo.

By the way, special talismans were put up on the walls of the dojo to compensate Machina’s shockwaves. And for some reason, Kaorun happily resting her cheek on my lap.

Kaorun probably just wanted to act spoiled. But I didn’t feel like cracking one of my usual jokes and even while I observed Hijiri and Machina’s mock battle, my head was full of Elni.

There the door of the dojo opened suddenly and a man with sinewy features showed up.

He was the head of the Gogyou Household and Hijiri’s father, Gogyou Sougo-san. Hijiri and Machina stopped their training as soon as they saw him, but

“Just keep going. You don’t have to mind me.”

Sougo-san replied with a light wave of his hand and he quietly sat down next to me while the girls resumed their practice. Following, Sougo-san cleared his throat with a cough and faced Kaorun, who was enjoying my lap pillow.

“Sorry, Kaoru, but could you bring us some tea?”

“Nope. Please refrain from interrupting my sweet time with Shinobu-sama. You can just pour some tea yourself, Papa.”

Papa? She meant Sougo-san? Before she had called him Master, but it sure had changed into quite the familiar title.

Actually, she was a maid for the most part, so she should work properly. Sougo-san made a wry smile without any real signs of anger, but I dropped my gaze to Kaorun half wearily.

“…Are you really the maid of this Mansion?”

“Rather than of this Mansion, I am only a maid for Hijiri-chan and you, Shinobu-sama. Basically, I will obey no order except from you two. Because it is a bit troublesome.”

“Then I ask you. Please make us some tea.”

“I refuse to. I want to enjoy Shinobu-sama’s lap pillow, so please go in my stead, Papa.”

“…Truth be told, you’re just a pretty girl—- no, a pervert that wears maid clothes only for show, aren’t you?”

“How rude. I was only joking around a bit. I will go prepare some tea right away.”

Stopping the jokes, Kaorun stood up, whereupon Sougo-san interjected softly.

“Kaoru, take your time.”

“I know. You want to talk to Shinobu-sama, right?”

Hey, if you noticed it, then obediently go right from the beginning.

Such thoughts crossed my mind, but surely Kaorun could joke around with a peace of mind, since she had opened up to Sougo-san. Holding back my tactless retort, I shifted my gaze to Sougo-san.

“Still… I’m a bit surprised. She called you Papa.”

“Well, Kaoru is shy. Only once she called me ‘Father’, but she turned bright red then as it was really embarrassing. Since then, she calls me like that. Well, it isn’t all too bad. Even if you only change one’s title, your relationship already changes a bit.”

…The relationship already changes a bit by just changing the title, huh.

Specially for a complicated relationship like Kaorun and Sougo-san’s, this change might be rather big.

The one who killed Kaorun’s father was Sougo-san. Sougo-san had always felt indebted to her because of that, so he must be happy about her change. In fact, he somewhat softened his expression and after a short pause, I asked what he wanted.

“So, ehm, you need something from me?”

“Yeah, I have a question for you…”

Saying so just a bit hesitant, Sougo-san filled his tone with indecision.

“How’s Elni doing right now?”

“…She’s still staying with us and smiling like usual.”

When I replied with a heavy tone, Sougo-san only replied “Just like back then” shortly and sighed somewhat sad. It could be that… Sougo-san noticed long ago that Elni would leave this city.

Previously, when we held a meeting at the Gogyou Mansion for Machina’s election, Sougo-san had mentioned that Elni was his precious friend and that he wanted to have dinner with her. Afterwards he actually treated her to dinner and even complied with her request.

…Elni’s request. That was to make the exorcist organisation tolerate Machina, a hybrid devil, who were regarded dangerous by the organisation. For that request, Sougo-san even risked his own position within the organisation and simply took it straight on.

Sure Sougo-san decided to grant the request of his dear friend because he predicted Elni’s leaving, because it might be the last request from her. Noticing it only now, I bit down on my lips, whereas Sougo-san quietly declared to me at the same time he made a sigh.

“Nanjou-kun, you might have already noticed, but if you have anything to tell her, then you better hurry up. Very soon, Elni will—”

“I haven’t given up on her.”

Cutting into his words, I made my tone decisive.

“Just now you told me that a relationship changes by from a different way of calling each other. I only thought of it just now, but I’ll make use of your words.”

“…I see. Good luck.” with that, he replied with a small nod and smiled somewhat sadly. His faced with his eyes narrowed looked like he would cry any moment, but he didn’t spill any tears. A dry expression that gave the impression that it withered a long time ago.

I was sure that Sougo-san had once ended up letting go off Elni in the past…

After Machina’s tense training ended, we left the Gogyou Mansion through the front gate while Hijiri and Kaorun sent us off. Saying our good-bye to them, I suddenly stopped and opened my mouth.

“Reminds me, what are you doing for Christmas this year?”

“Oh please, Shinobu-sama. That is a secret just between us, right?”

“First time I hear that. Stop saying misleading things. And stop snuggling up to my chest too.”

While retorting to Kaorun, I corrected my tone a bit.

“Actually, I want to hold a Christmas party with everyone this year, though I don’t have concrete plans yet.”

“A sex orgy party just for Christmas?”

“I’m gonna smack you, you perverted maid! I’m trying to be serious here! Actually, why are you turning red on your own foolery?”

“…Because I am aware myself that I failed. Anyway, if you are holding a party, please leave the preparations to me. I will present all of you an extraordinary sweet time for the Christmas night.”

Kaorun puffed up her chest full of confidence, but hearing that, Machina said “I’m a bit worried” and I shared her opinion. However, I would leave the preparations to Kaorun. After that, I rounded it up with a quick chit-chat with Hijiri and Kaorun, and while I walked home together with Machina, I crossed my arms.

…The Christmas Party was my last resort. If possible I would like to hold on to Elni without relying on it. So while recalling my conversation with Sougo-san, I started talking to Machina, who was walking next to me, with “Hey Machina, I have something to discuss about Elni.” and while I continued with “I’ll ask the others for help too”, I made a proposal.

Instantly, Machina showed a smile with “I’m sure Elni will be delighted” and when I walked on while exchanging ideas with her, we suddenly came across an unexpected person near our house.

A tall figure. A black suit. The same red hair as Machina. Giving off the aura of a foreign actor, he was Luna and Machina’s father, the Old Man Bram.

But he was supposed to be in the demon realm, so just what was he doing here? Surprised by the unexpected meeting, Machina widened her eyes too, whereas the Old Man faced me and declared indifferently.

“Hmp, you look as stupid as ever, Shinobu.”

“…Who said you can drop the honorific? Don’t call my name so casually. I’m gonna smack you, you bloodsucker.”

“E- Excuse me for that— wait, no! You told me to call you so! Oh, maybe your head is actually just a decoration?”

Like that, I got it started with the Old Man, whereupon Machina smiled faintly with “You two are rather close” and then she directed the smile at her father.

“So, why are you here, Father? Do you need something?”

“Well, something like that. It’s for a promise this time.”

“A promise? I don’t really get it, but anyway, if you’re coming here, give me at least a call. What do you think a cell phone is for? And why are you hardly responding to my mails? Also…”

In that manner, Machina started to complain. But she looked a bit happy and the Old Man relaxed his expression too, shifting his gaze towards me after he talked with Machina.

“Shinobu, I got indebted to Elni and you for the incident with Machina. I told you before, but I’m going to listen to Elni’s request now.”

While leaking a sigh for some reason, the Old Man continued with “Sorry…” and turned around.

I had forgotten again… Elni’s request. What was the Old Man going to do from now on? I was concerned about that, but I got the feeling that he told me that Elni forbid him to talk about it. Most likely he wouldn’t answer me even if I asked.

When I silently watched after the Old Man, Machina next to me tilted her head wondering.

“What could Elni’s request be?”

“…I don’t know either.”

But there was something else I was supposed to do instead of worrying about that. While I resume my walk together with Machina, we two kept talking about the plans for the coming event until we reached the house…

Dinner time at our house. At the dinner table was everyone, namely Machina, Luna, Elni, Nazuna, my mother and I, gathered like usually. Amidst that, I waited for everyone to finish their meal and exchanged looks with my mother. Like arranged with everyone except Elni beforehand, my mother threw a glance at Elni and started the conversation teasingly with “But I have to say,”.

“even though you ate so much today again, you always stay so small, Elni.”

“Muh, why are you looking at my chest for that, Tomoe-san?”

“…I feel a bit sorry for you.”

“Wh- What’s with that pitiful look! What’s wrong with being small! It’s easier to tell your heartbeat with a smaller size! I can even hear Shinobu’s heartbeat when we’re embracing! Better than Luna or Machina ever can!”

It was the usual Elni. She sparsely puffed up her moderate chest and raised her voice.

“Besides, big breasts are big because they’re packed with dreams! And small breasts are small because they grant wishes! Unlike Luna, Machina or Tomoe-san, Nazucat and I are bringing dreams to everyone! Small breasts aren’t to be underestimated!”

“…Nazuna is my daughter, you know? Lately she’s moving from the dream granting side to the dream stocking side, so I’m afraid that Nazuna is no longer your fellow, Elni.”

“N- No way! This can’t be? Tell me it’s not true, Nazucat!”

“Sorry, Elni-chan. I’ll be become an enchantress, so I can’t stand on the same stage as you anymore.”

Somewhat awkward, Nazuna phoned in monotone. In comparison, my mother’s acting was flawless. She said teasing again.

“Somehow, Nazuna already seems more of an older sister than Elni. Nazuna isn’t as stupid as Elni either and got a bigger chest…”

“W- Wait a sec, Tomoe-san! My chest is still bigger! Besides, going by appearance, I’m still the older sister! You think so too, don’t you Nazucat?”

“Sorry, Elni-chan. I have already surpassed you, like a vassal his feudal Lord during the Sengoku period.”

“S- So this is how Oda Nobunaga must have felt at Honno-ji…”

Nazuna phoned in monotone again. In regards, Elni made a heartrending ace, as she received a shock, and sought help from Luna and Machina.

“Luna, Machina, today Tomoe-san and Nazucat are rather cold. Give them a warning, by utilizing your sadistic skill, Luna, and your Queen tendency, Machina.”

“I, I refuse to. Because in my opinion too, you are a child, Elni-chan…”

“I, I agree with my sister. You really appear smaller than Nazuna now.”

With an awkwardness of the same level as Nazuna’s, Luna and Machina both matched their story to my mother’s and Elni finally broke out in tears.

“Shinobu! Everyone’s so mean today! I’m a tiny bit hurt! Say something to them, Shinobu!”

“…I can only say one thing.”

Resting my hands on both sides of Elni’s shoulders, I played my part with a somewhat passionate tone.

“Regain your lost pride with your own strength. If you’re up for it, I’ll stand by your side. How’s it, Elni, are you motivated for it?”

“More than ever. But you’re a bit strange today too, Shinobu…”

I felt a bit guilty and Elni too became a bit doubtful, but well, it was going just like planned. My mother softly clapped my shoulder and left the room, whereas Luna and I stood up from our seats to start the preparations. It certainly might have been a bit forceful this time, but— well, time to start the second contest for the position of the Nanjou family’s second daughter.

Machina, Nazuna and Elni stood in front of the heating table in the living room. Their gazes were fixed on each their call bell, which served as a replacement for a buzzer. All preparations were done.

Just like with the first contest for the position of the Nanjou family’s second daughter, I was the moderator for this tournament and Luna my assistant. After I finished a simple accord with Luna, I watched over the contestants once again and slowly started to talk.

“Okay then, I hereby declare the start of the second contest for the position of the Nanjou family’s second daughter. In the first contest Luna won unintentionally, but this time for sure Luna won’t participate. We’ll properly settle who from you three is the most suited to be an older sister.”

After I confirmed that they all nodded firmly to my words, I continued my explanations.

“The conditions are the same as before. Luna will give you quizzes now. If you know the answer, ring the bell and the fastest one gets to answer. As an extra this time, the winner will receive a wonderful present. Please give your best for the prize.”

Now I wanted to raise the tension, so I raised the volume of my voice a bit.

“Okay! Now to introduce the participants! First we have entry number one, the student president of our school and red-haired Queen, Machina Liebelei Orangelo!”

“Fufu, I’ll play along to kill some time. Well, I’ll win anyway.”

Machina showed a laid-back expression. Just by appearance, she surely was the most suited to be the second daughter.

“Next we have entry number two, the captain of the karate club despite her adorable features and she dreams to become an enchantress, Nanjou Nazuna!”

“Meow! I’ll give my best to become an enchantress! I want to be the fine sake that intoxicates you!”

Well, for now that was surely impossible. Nazuna didn’t look like the second daughter at all.

“Lastly we have entry number three…A simple puppy.”

“Woof, woof— wait, what the! At least call me Mad Dog! Actually, it’s too rude how you only treat me like that, Shinobu! I’ll definitely get your own back!”

Elni was full of motivation. I smiled faintly and threw a glance at Luna, who nodded with a smile and then stated the first question with a beautiful voice like a ringing bell.

“Onto the first question. The sentence Caesar from Rome said when he was assassinated, is really famous, but what did he say?”

Instantly, Nazuna rang the bell in no time.

“Yes, Nazuna! What did Caesar say when he was assassinated?”

“Idiot! That wasn’t even my final form!”

“You’re the idiot! What kind of bluff is that! He’s getting assassinated! Most likely he’s in pain! And why’re you looking so confident! The answer is obviously wrong!”

As expected, I gave a retort, whereas Machina quietly rang her bell with “Sorry, but I’m taking this question”.

“Yes, Machina! What did Caesar say when he was assassinated?”

“You’re Brutus too?”

“Why!? How many Brutus are there? Can he use a doppelganger skill or what!?”

With no rest, I gave another retort, whereupon Elni hit the bell with attitude, saying “I see. I get it now!”.

“…It should be obvious now, but Elni, what did Caesar say when he was assassinated?”

“You weren’t Brutus!?”

“Then who was it! Brutus was the right one! Give it a rest already with the weird answers!”

Continuous retorts. When I raised a loud voice, Luna made a wry smile and opened her mouth.

“Ehm, the second question is about baseball. In the batting box stands a batter, who hit a homerun before. The catcher senses danger, stands up and raises his arm up high, putting up the glove. Now, what is the catcher signalizing to the pitcher?”

With a question of this level, the answer “An intentional walk” should come up right away.

I thought so, whereupon Nazuna already rang her bell.

“Okay, Nazuna, what’s the catcher signalising to the pitcher?”

“A clever talk!”

“What nonsense is that! They’re standing apart, so how could they talk!? Even the pitcher will shake his head on this!”

“Then it’s a man’s aesthetic!”

“The heck? You mean like encouraging the pitcher? But the catcher already stood up!”

“Then! A mood unique for boy’s schools!”

“As if! Enough from you! You’re next, Machina!”

“Ehh!? I didn’t ring my bell yet? And I’m not knowledgeable about baseball…”

“Even if you aren’t, you should be able to guess! Think about it! I’m sure you know it! What’s the catcher signalising to the pitcher?”

“A three-point shot?”

“This isn’t basketball! It’s baseball, not basketball, okay!?”

“Ehm… Three outs, side retired?”

“Now that’s nonsense! Even the pitcher will cry! Please, think a bit harder! What’s the catcher signalising to the pitcher?”

“…Game Set?”

“Why’re you making it worse! You want to end the game with a single pitch? There’s no way the umpire will shout ‘Game Set’ once the ball is pitched! If that were to happen, the opponent would go on a frenzy!”

While I felt my blood pressure raising from too much retorts, I threw a glance at Elni.

“Okay, Elni! Give me the answer!”

“I, I haven’t rang my bell yet…”

“I thought you would know it! Come on, answer! What’s the catcher signalising to the pitcher?”

“A beer tonight!”

“Why’s he already in party mood? The home run batter is standing in the batting box! The catcher sensed danger, so it’s obviously an intentional walk!”

Not enduring it any longer, I shouted out the right answer, whereupon it resulted in Machina tilting her head with “…What’s an intentional walk?”.

But I was the one, who came up with this question. I was at fault. While I made a sigh, Luna rested her hand comforting on my shoulder and softly gave the next question.

“Now onto question three. It is a geography question this time. The opposite of the South Pole is—”

Before Luna could finish the question, Nazuna repeatedly rang her bell.

“Ohh, pumped up, aren’t we. Okay Nazuna, the opposite of the South Pole is?”

“Nonexistent!”

“Don’t screw around! Are you picking a fight? Of course it exists!”

“No! It doesn’t! Really!

When Nazuna puffed up her chest confident, Machina too agreed with “Yeah”, but as expected, Elni widened her eyes with “Ehh!? Machina!?” and timidly rang her bell.

“Uhm, the right answer is the North Pole, Shinobu.”

“…Your final answer?”

“F- Final dancer.”

“Dance all you want! is what I want to say, but— that’s right! Elni gets one point!”

“Hahaha! This is the power of the Goddess! Did you see that, Machina, Nazucat?”

It wasn’t something to brag about this much, but to save strength, I kept my retort to myself. I just left it at a shrug with my shoulders, whereas Luna opened her mouth with a smile.

“Then for the fourth question. It is another history question. Who build the Oosaka Castle?”

Instantly, Nazuna let her bell resound faster than the others with “Meow!”.

“…Nazuna, you’re the only Japanese amongst the participants. Please give the right answer.”

“Leave it to me, Brother! I know the answer! The one who built the Oosaka Castle was the Monkey, also called the bald rat!”

“W- Well, that’s not wrong, but these nicknames belong to whom?”

“The social study teacher!”

“Apologize! Apologize to him right away! And reflect a bit on your own action!”

“I, I’m sorry, social study teacher. I messed around too much…”

When Nazuna obediently lowered her head, Machina rang her bell with a wry smile.

“This question is easy. We learned it in class the other day. The right answer is Toyotomi Hideyoshi, right?”

“—Hold it, Machina!”

Suddenly stopping Machina’s answer, Elni continued with a slim smile.

“You’re too naïve, Machina. This is a trick question. The right answer is, the carpenter!”

“—Yes, correct! Elni has two points now!”

When I instantly replied affirming, both Nazuna and Machina raised an “EHH!?” voice in harmony, then relaxed their expressions a bit. But I suppressed the smile that was about to form on my face and opened my mouth.

“Now then, the next one will be the last. For Machina and Nazuna’s sake, the right answer for this will specially earn two points. If either of you answers right, you’ll go into an extra round with Elni.”

“S- Somehow that makes me efforts so far go to waste, but I don’t mind! I’ll stand victorious no matter the disadvantage! So please read the next question, Luna!”

“Yes, very well, Elni-chan.”

Replying to Elni with a smile, Luna took out a single memo sheet from her pocket.

“The last question comes from Tomoe-san. Ehm, what is the size of Luna-chan’s breasts— wait, wh- what is this?”

“What you ask, the last question, isn’t it?”

Even while I was a bit agitated, I looked at Luna’s chest partly teasing.

“Sorry Luna, but as the moderator, I need to know the right answer. Tell me it secretly.”

“Uhm, well, ehm…” with that, she embarrassedly rubbed her index fingers against each other and brought her face closer to my ear, as she wanted to tell me despite that.

“Brother, I know the right answer!” “Me too! Pick me, Shinobu!” “No, Shinobu is going to pick me! I believe I rang the bell faster than you two!”

In that way, all of the participants rang their bells together, so

“You’re so noisy! Keep it down!”

I abandoned my moderator role as a joke, whereupon the participants all widened their eyes with “””WHY!?”””, but regardless to my warning, Nazuna raised a voice before long.

“Brother! Luna-oneechan has a bust size of 97cm!”

“H- Hey, Nazuna! That’s not fair! If you get the two points, I’m automatically eliminated!”

“—Not just you, Machina! Nazucat too! The match is mine! You two still have a lot to learn!”

After giving Machina and Nazuna a fearless smile, Elni sharply pointed at Luna’s beautiful huge breasts.

“Her size at her waist or hips hasn’t changed, but she hasn’t gotten bigger around the chest! However, she’s trying to fudge it! The truth is: Bust size 98, waist 58 and hips 89, she’s a G-cup! She even might go into the three digits at this rate!”

“I- If they get that big, I will have nothing to wear again! Please do not say so scary things! Also, I am sorry for trying to deceive you!”

Luna covered her bright red face with both hands and Machina and Nazuna nodded at each other with “…My sister‘s so amazing.” and “I’ll never be able to beat that.”, whereas I raised a voice with “Correct!”.

“Elni wins! Congratulations. The second daughter of the Nanjou family is indeed you, Elni.”

Backing up my words with feelings, I gave a big applause, whereupon

“Well, I’m not opposed if it’s Elni.”

“Elni-chan usually is an older sister anyway.”

Following my lead, Machina and Nazuna gave an applause too, whereupon, Elni, probably unaware of the true meaning behind this, proudly puffed up her chest, whereas Luna excitedly left the living room with a smile. Like planned, she brought my mother back here right away.

And my mother carried a brilliant light pink kimono in her hands. While everyone still gentle applauded, my mother slowly approached Elni, held out the kimono in her hands to her and declared.

“I heard it from Luna-chan. Congratulations on your victory, Elni. This is your prize.”

“This kimono? But it looks really expensive. For only me to receive something like that…”

“You don’t need to show any reservation. I prepared it for New Year anyway.”

“…For New Year?”

“Yes, I wanted to see my daughter all dressed up.”

“Your daughter all dressed up… Could it be, this kimono was meant for Nazucat?”

Elni asked awkwardly. However my mother just smiled, replying nothing. But she must have wanted Elni to notice the meaning behind her words by herself. Luna dropped her gaze onto the kimono, lightly pulled Elni on her hand by brightly saying “Let us try it on” and left the room.

After a while, Elni wearing the brilliant kimono came back together with Luna.

A light pink kimono decorated with flowers like peony or chrysanthemum. Elni wore it somewhat elegant. Her brilliant silver hair was hanging down free, which gave her an unusual neat aura and the beautiful kimono was showing off Elni’s charm.

I was inadvertently captivated. Luna, Machina and Nazuna reddened their cheeks fascinated too and my mother narrowed her eyes peacefully, whereas only Elni rocked her big crimson eyes in confusion.

“…This, is just strange. It fits me perfectly. It’s a prize, yet it surely only fits me… And Tomoe-san said she prepared it because she wanted to see her daughter all dressed up…”

Most likely Elni started to understand the meaning behind the word “daughter” that my mother had spoken out. Elni blurred her rocking eyes a bit, whereupon my mother quietly sat down upon seeing that and simply looked at her gently.

“Hey Elni… Your mother’s already gone, right?”

“Yeah… She died crying. It happened… a long time ago though…”

This probably was a continuation from the conversation in the garden the other day. Elni lightly trembled her voice and forcefully put on a smile again, whereupon my mother quietly nodded a “I see…” and reached out her hand to her with “Before I couldn’t tell you, but”.

“If you want, I can become your second mother, Elni.”

“…I’m really happy, but I don’t think that’ll work.”

“Why?”

My mother asked softly, whereas Elni tightly squeezed her fists and replied.

“I mean, I’m sure my real mother will be sad if I call you ‘Mother’, Tomoe-san. I’m sure… it’ll make her cry.”

“That’s not true, Elni. I told you before, didn’t I? Like me, your mother loved her own child. So she’ll definitely smile.”

While petting Elni’s head with her extended hand, my mother spun her words warmly.

“For example, if it eases Shinobu and Nazuna‘s sadness and makes them smile by calling someone else ‘mother‘ after I died, then I’ll be grateful to that second mother. I’m sure it’s the same for your mother, Elni.”

“…Really? She won’t cry again?”

“It definitely will be fine. You might not know yet, but that’s how mothers are. No matter how cold you are to them and even if you make them cry, a mother always wishes for her child’s happiness, which will also be her own happiness. Really mysterious, isn’t it.”

Softly relaxing her expression,

“A mother, who doesn’t wish for her child’s happiness, can’t be called a mother anymore, but your mother isn’t like that, right? She wishes for your happiness, right?”

Like gently enveloping her, my mother embraced Elni.

“So it’s fine. Everything you did for your mother or made her do for you, you can try it on me. If that makes you smile, I’m sure even your mother will smile in joy.”

“…Why are you… so kind… to me…?”

“You don’t know without me telling you?”

Temporarily stopping her words, my mother smiled warmly.

“Because I love you, Elni, and think of you as my daughter. So stop being considerate or smiling all the time, and be selfish sometimes. When you’re sad, cry. If I’m good enough, I’ll always be there for you.”

“…I… But, I…”

Hesitating, Elni was at a loss for words, whereas Nazuna and Machina looked at each other, then cleared their throats with a caught to get the attention. Following, they looked at Elni after a small pause and each let their feelings resound in their voices.

“Let me say it again. Congratulations on your victory, Elni-oneechan.”

“That kimono suits you really well, Elni-oneesama.”

The dear addressing of an older sister. The crimson eyes started to get incredible blurry.

“…I knew it was strange from the beginning. You all strangely teased me today and were smiling even though it’s exam time. From the beginning, you all… gave your best… for, for someone like me…”

It probably was due to seeing through our plan and everyone’s conveyed feelings. Still embraced by my mother, Elni spilled big tears from her crimson eyes and seeing that, Nazuna called out to her a bit worried.

“Could it be… you didn’t like it, Elni-chan?”

“…No, of course not. I’m really happy about it.”

Entwining her arms around my mother’s back and hugging her tightly, Elni looked at each our faces.

“Thank you for doing all this for me, Shinobu, Luna. Thank you for taking me as your older sister, Machina, Nazuna. Thank you for the wonderful kimono… Mom.”

For an outsider this might have been a trivial thing. For the first time, Elni called Nazuna by her name, not by her nickname, and my mother as “Mom”.

—Even just by a different way of calling, a relationship changed a bit.

Was it able to change this time for sure? Did we become a family?

To be honest, I wasn’t sure yet. But even so, Elni’s smiling expression while she was crying surrounded by everyone, was more radiant than any other smile I had seen on her before…

Even after the contest ended, everyone stayed in the living room, spending a really gentle and peaceful time. Even while Machina said “It’s embarrassing, so only for today”, she animated her voice with “Elni-oneesama” without hiding her bliss, and Nazuna clung spoiled onto Elni with “Elni-oneechan” numerous times.

While my mother and I watched over that, Elni happily brought her guitar from her own room and Luna her keyboard with a smile.

The keyboard was a present from Hijiri to Luna for her birthday.

While I recalled that, Elni and Luna started to play a bright melody with each their instrument, and Nazuna let resonate a fitting cheerful song to it.

My mother, Machina and I gave them an applause and after their performance, Elni handed her guitar to Nazuna, as she was staring at it, and started to teach her little sister how to play it.

“Nazuna, first you have to remember the cords: Minor, major, seventh…”

“Mhm~ It’s kinda difficult. I wonder if I’ll be able to play so cool like you, Elni-oneechan.”

“Fufu, I think you’ll be able to in no time.”

Her first guitar playing. While Luna, Machina and my mother watched over Nazuna’s practice, Elni sung the lullaby from the other day as soon as she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, while she wrote down the score without end. Hearing this song, Luna relaxed her cheeks with “Such a nice song”, whereupon

“You know, my mother wrote this song.” with that, Elni smiled proudly at Luna and finished writing down the score. She handed them to Luna without hesitation.

“The song I got from my mother has always been my treasure. But since you gave me a lot of things and I‘m happy about it, I’ll give this treasure to you, Luna.”

“…You are giving it to me, not Machina or Nazuna-chan?”

“Of course. I’m the second daughter of the Nanjou family, so you’re my older sister. Thus I’m giving it to you. Please sing it to your child once you have one.”

Luna showed a small bewilderment, whereas Elni continued with a remarkably gentle tone.

“—Luna, no more holding back, okay? You don’t have to give up anymore. Just take what you always wanted.”

It were a bit mysterious words. But they might have a special meaning for Luna. She damped her eyes a bit.

“Thank you. I love you, Elni-chan.”

With a somewhat bleared voice, she tightly hugged Elni. There Nazuna looked alternating at Machina and our mother and pulled reserved on Elni’s sleeve, albeit a bit hesitant.

“Hey Elni-oneechan, you taught me how to play the guitar and gave Luna-oneechan a song. But Mom and Machina-oneechan still haven’t—”

“It‘s okay, Nazuna. Machina-chan aside, I’m a parent. The smile of my child is enough for me. I don’t need anything else.”

When my mother softly cut into Nazuna’s words, Machina too said with a peaceful smile.

“I’m fine too. I feel bad for Nazuna and my sister, but I already received a lot of things from Elni-oneesama first. She gave me plastic models, taught me how to cook and even meddle in a certain organisation for my sake.”

My mother was listening, so Machina kept it a bit vague and continued happily.

“When I was wavering, she took on the ungracious part of making me realize my mistake. Thanks to that, I was able to stay here so far. I really thank you, Elni-oneesama.”

…Machina the hybrid devil. The exorcist organisation didn’t tolerate her. And Elni had asked Sougo-san to change the opinion of that organisation. When Machina previously tried to return to the demon realm, it wasn’t just me who stopped her, but Elni played a big role too.

Along with words of gratitude, Machina followed Luna’s lead and hugged Elni too, whereupon

“Goof for you, Machina…”

Like treating a little sister, Elni dearly started to pet Machina’s head.

Afterwards, the girl group took a bath together and played a video game while smiling bright together… These smiles didn’t even break once.

Right now this certainly was the place where Elni belonged to. It felt like she was part of our family. So I thought that I wanted days like today, special because of the pettiness, to keep occurring and let Elni smile on forever…

Since there was school tomorrow, we couldn’t stay up too late. Midway in the game, Nazuna fell asleep and we regretfully ended our time together for now, postponing it until tomorrow.

However, we just had so much fun earlier, so even after I returned to my own room, the excitement wouldn’t leave my body and I enjoyed that feeling by myself while sitting on my bed, whereupon there was a small knock on the door and Elni peeked her head in, animating her voice with a smile towards me.

“Shinobu! Let me rest on your arm! I want to sleep together with you tonight!”

“…That’s embarrassing, so please leave.”

“Your request is denied! I won’t pull back so easily today! I’m the second daughter of this house! In other words, your older sister! Your older sister’s words are absolute!”

“No, even if you’re the second daughter, doesn’t that still make you my little sister?”

“Then please, Shinobu-oniichan, let me sleep with you tonight. If you decline, I’ll bite you like the angry Nazuna. BAD Mad Dog!”

“…Do want you want.”

Like she had said, Elni wouldn’t back off so easily. Giving up to change her mind, I lay down on the bed, whereupon Elni got onto the bed as soon as she turned off the lights, slipped under the blanket and clung to me tightly.

Elni’s soft body. Her sweet fragrance tickling my nasal cavities. Her pleasant body temperature. While I was secretly agitated, Elni slowly started talking peacefully after a while.

“Hey Shinobu, so far, I have travelled to a lot of places and met a lot of people, befriending them, so I received really a lot of things. I got lots of smiles. I was taught a lot of things. Like playing the guitar, cooking, making accessories, using talismans…”

Peacefully spinning her words, Elni midway continued with “But”.

“While I feel bad for everyone that gave me so many things or taught me so many things, the thing I’m the most happy about is… what you gave me, Shinobu. That you stayed by my side. I never thought I would make a place more precious than the one with my mother.”

Clinging to me even stronger, Elni blurred her voice warmly.

“…Thank you… for fulfilling my dream, Shinobu.”

“Elni, I should be thanking you. You gave all of us a lot of things. It’s hard to put into words, but I feel at ease with you by my side. With you smiling by our side, I think we can keep smiling no matter what happens.”

“You can’t make light of my Goddess’ power.”

Cracking a joke with her still blurred voice, Elni declared softly.

“Enough talking. You have school tomorrow, right? You better sleep now.”

“…Doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to sleep like this, though.”

“Fufu, you’re such a spoiled kid, Shinobu. Then I’ll sing you a lullaby as an exception.”

It wasn’t like I was spoiled, but I was wide-awake from the excitement. However, not waiting for my reply, Elni sung the lullaby from a different country that she had presented to Luna.

Embracing my body like enveloping it and dearly petting my head, she made the gentle song resound in my heart. Upon that, my consciousness slowly and comfortable faded amidst her song and warmth, making me fall into light slumber.

“…Why did I… even become a Goddess…”

In place for the interrupted song,

“Sorry, Shinobu. It was so much fun being with everyone and I loved everyone, loved them so much, so… I became really scared.”

Her voice, not reaching my ears, came fuzzily from somewhere far away.

“I’ll surely end up breaking it again. Break everything again. But this is my most precious place, so I definitely won’t break it. I’ll never make any of you cry. Therefore I asked Bram to erase the memories. By tomorrow, you all will have forgotten about me. But…”

All that was conveyed to me was her soft heartbeat.

“You can forget about someone like me. You don’t have to cry over someone like me.”

Along with a sensation of a warm teardrop falling onto my cheek,

“Bye-bye, Shinobu. I’ll always remember you. Even if I can’t see you guys, I’ll never forget you. I’ll… always… love you…”

Before my consciousness fell into the darkness, the gentle heartbeat slowly got away and I got the feeling that I heard just her crying properly…

* * *

It was a morning like always. While the sound of rain resounded from outside, I reluctantly opened my eyelids urged by a beautiful voice like a bell ringing, whereupon my vision fell on Luna’s smiling face. It was such an ordinary morning. Before I noticed it, I was looking around my room, looking for someone, and I opened my mouth confused.

“Hey Luna, was there someone else here this morning?”

“Eh? There was no one when I came in.”

Luna tilted her head wondering. I too tilted my head like Luna with “Strange”, whereupon Luna softly urged me again.

“Machina, Nazuna-chan and Tomoe-san are waiting for you, Shinobu-san. Please come down quickly for breakfast.”

“…Mh? What about her?”

“Her? Who do you mean?”

“You know, her. Ehm… What was her name again?”

When I tilted my head again, Luna must have thought that I was still half-sleep. She left the room smiling with “Everyone is waiting, so please hurry up”. On the other hand, I felt something amiss with Luna’s “everyone” sentence and suddenly a dull pain ran through my head.

…Did I catch a cold?

Making a small sigh, I dressed myself and went to the dining kitchen, where everyone sat at the table together like always. Luna, Machina, Nazuna and my mother.

Exchanging a short greeting with them, I said down at the table too, but for some reason a breakfast was served before an empty seat. No one touched their breakfast and stared at the empty seat like waiting for someone, whereupon Luna showed an embarrassed smile and said.

“I am sorry. I seem to be half-asleep as well today, so I ended up making one portion too much.”

How unusual for Luna to make such a mistake. Everyone was a bit surprised, but we each picked up our chopsticks a bit hesitant. Amidst that, Nazuna looked around at our faces and started talking timidly.

“Hey, did anyone come into my room last night?”

On that question, everyone exchanged looks, then each shock their heads. whereupon Nazuna tilted her head wondering.

“Maybe it was… a hasty Santa Claus?”

“You’re the hasty one, Nazuna.”

Nazuna said something strange, whereas my mother replied happily.

“It’s still a way until Christmas, yet you already snuck your present into my drawer, didn’t you? I was really surprised. Were you half-asleep too?”

“Eh? Present? I don’t know anything about it.”

“…Oh come one. You gave me so many beads bracelets. There was even a memo with ‘Thank you for the kimono, Mom! This is your Christmas present!’… I don’t remember giving you a kimono, but it said mom…”

As she felt a headache midway in her sentence, my mother frowned and covered her face with one hand, trembling her voice a bit with “…Who did I give that kimono to…”.

The strange Christmas present for my mother. Me included, no one knew anything about it and in the end, we never figured out from whom the present was…

The usual way to school. The usual classes at school. The really usual lunch break.

But something was lacking and not knowing what it was, I felt a baffling pain in my chest while I watched the rain that poured down since the morning, whereupon the perverted with the handsome face aka my friend Asada, who had eaten lunch together with me, called out to me worried.

“Hey Nanjou, you have been spacing out since the morning. Did something happen?”

“Yeah, I’m a bit troubled right now. It seems I lost something really precious. I have to get it back. Help me, Asada.”

“I have no reason to refuse you. Leave it to me. So, what are we getting back?”

“You know, Asada, the truth is… I’m out of money for this month.”

“Snore, snore. Mumble, mumble. Boobies, boobies dream.”

“Hey, Asada, stop feigning a sleep so obviously. I’m gonna poke your eyeballs with my chopsticks.”

When I gave a harsh retort like always, Asada made a sigh of relief for some reason.

“Seems you still have the energy to crack a joke for now. I’m a bit relieved. And I feel stupid for worrying. Since it’s you, you’re surely troubled about having too many beloved girls to spend Christmas with.”

“I’m not troubled about that. I just have to love all of them together.”

“…I got a bit of a killing intent just now. Keep that up and I’ll kill you.”

While we both messed around like that, I casually asked Asada.

“By the way, Pervert, how are you going to spend this year’s Christmas?”

“Good question, Mr. Gigolo. Usually I name myself the solo type or horny beast, but only on Christmas I’ll a normal guy.”

“Oh, just like during the summer vacation, you’re going to dirty the screen of your pc by kissing the girl of a game?”

“That was a visionary love shown to me from the summer heat. But Christmas won’t be like that.”

Quietly stopping his words, Asada changed his usual easygoing tone into a gentle one.

“I’ll spend Christmas with my family. Tomoyuki-san— No, I mean my dad will apparently come home early. My mother and sister will be home too. I’m spending Christmas together with my family, even though I’m already a high schooler, you know? Aren’t you jealous?”

“No, I’m doing the same. So I’m not really—-”

I started talking, but inadvertently stopped my words.

“H- Hey? Nanjou? What’s up so suddenly? You’re a bit strange today after all.”

I suddenly felt a faint headache, a feeling of loss and my tears wouldn’t stop.

Not hearing Asada’s voice, someone’s sad voice was resounding in my heart.

—A Christmas party, huh. Sounds kinda fun. Okay. I’ll stay at your house until Christmas is over.

“…So much for that. You’re gone now.”

A monologue spilled out of my own mouth. I just couldn’t figure out at whom these words were directed, but even so, I couldn’t hold back the overflowing tears…

As she had no work for the student council today either, I was on my way home from school with Machina walking next to me like yesterday. We finally had a chance to go home together, yet we had nothing to talk about in particular, so both Machina and I listened to the calm sound of the rain while holding our umbrellas, whereupon we happened to run into Luna at a crossroad.

She held an umbrella and a shopping bag with a somewhat depressed expression. Moreover, Luna kept her gloomy face even when she noticed us, and I called out to her a bit bewildered.

“Ehm, fancy meeting you here. You were out shopping?”

“…Yes, I was, but something is strange.”

Even while she nodded lightly, Luna trembled her hand that held the umbrella a bit.

“After I finished my shopping, I was thinking about something absurd like if she was playing with the children at the nursery school again, and ended up going there. And when the nursery teacher asked me ‘Are you here to pick her up?’, I reflexively answered with ‘Yes’… but I wonder who I was going to pick up?”

Luna knitted her eyebrows troubled. A sense of discomfort and a loneliness in the heart. Maybe it wasn’t just Luna and me, who were holding such feelings.

Most likely Machina was the same. After getting home together with Luna, she headed for the kitchen with her shopping bag, whereas Machina was staring at the top of the shoe locker while taking off her shoes.

What was she doing? When I followed her gaze a bit curious, there stood a plastic model with an unsociable face… Mh? Why did I think it was an unsociable face? I doubtfully tilted my head, whereupon

“…Shinobu, this plastic model is cool, isn’t it?”

At the same time of these words, her voice got out of order.

“You see, my room is full of these models. I’m not interested in them in the slightest, so I probably got them from someone. Someone might have given me a lot of his treasures. But I can’t recall who it was at all and when I wake up in the morning and see the models, I get to think…”

Every time she spoke out a word, her voice was incredible blurred.

“Hey Shinobu, was my room… always this big?”

—Look, Machina! Isn’t it done cool? I’ll give it to you!

—From today on it’ll protect the Nanjou Household’s front door. Because I graduated from being a personal guard. I’m busy with my job at the nursery school. It’ll be the successor to Mad Dog.

Again. The voice resounded again. My tears were about to overflow again. That voice echoed right in the middle of my chest. But the voice disappeared right away and even when I desperately tried to recall it, it didn’t come back. Unable to say anything to the hoarse Machina, I could only watch her leave quietly.

…What was this feeling clamouring in the back of my heart?

Suppressing my incredible aching chest, I went to the living room for a change of pace, where Nazuna sat on the sofa. Wherever she had it from, Nazuna was holding a guitar… Strangely enough, I remembered that guitar. It belonged to someone.

But I couldn’t figure out who and stared at the guitar, whereupon Nazuna noticed me and despite her usual bright self, she dropped her voice with “Welcome home, Brother”.

While I was confused by that reaction, I dared to ask with a casual tone.

“You’re home quite early today. What about your club activities?”

“…I’m taking the day off. Somehow, I came back here thinking I forgot something, but wherever I look, I can’t find it… Strange, isn’t it? I don’t even know what I’m looking for.”

“Well, I’m the same as you since the morning. Anyway, what’s with that guitar?”

“This? It was in my room when I woke up this morning. It said it was a Christmas present. I thought it was from a hasty Santa Claus, but it seems it’s from my older sister.”

“Your older sister? Luna or Machina?”

“Probably neither. They never had a guitar to begin with and besides, while I didn’t notice it this morning, when I opened the drawer of my desk in search for that something I forgot… there was a letter.”

While she continued to talk, tears gradually dwelled up in Nazuna’s eyes.

“In the letter it said: ‘Make everyone smile in my stead. I’m sure you can do it, Nazucat, no, Nazuna. Also, the guitar in your room is a Christmas present for you from me! Best wishes, your older sister.’… I don’t really get it. Who was it again… that called me ‘Nazucat’?”

“I don’t get it either…”

—Wait, Aki! Where’re you going with my guitar! It’s my treasure! Please give it back!

“I get the feeling that guitar was the treasure of someone.”

Probably that voice resounded in Nazuna’s heart too.

“I saw someone play this guitar and really liked it. I wanted to watch her perform forever… Now that I have it, I won’t get to see it again.”

Along with her words, Nazuna finally spilled tears. But still holding the guitar, she mumbled “I have to find that something I forgot…” and rushed out of the living room with no time for me to stop her.

The something we forgot. Just what had we forgotten? Still not knowing it, I headed into the kitchen for some tea, whereupon I suddenly heard the lullaby from a different country.

For some reason that lullaby swayed my heart and I faced the direction of the song, but… why did I feel like sighing? My vision fell onto Luna, who stood in the kitchen, as she was preparing dinner. And as she noticed my look, she turned around and stopped singing.

“…This lullaby is so wonderful.”

“Yeah, I think so too, but what language is that? I don’t really understand it.”

Swallowing my sigh, I gave an agreeable response, whereas Luna replied smiling faintly.

“This song has a really kind message behind it. It is praying for the happiness of the children that will be born from now on. This song was her treasure… and she gave it to me…”

Luna was the same as Machina and Nazuna too. Thinking of someone, but unable to recall who it was. She trembled her voice and spilled tears, like a big hole spread in her chest.

…Why couldn’t we remember?

A feeling like guilt arose in my chest for some reason and after I finished a short talk with Luna, I returned to my room and slowly headed for my desk.

Everyone got all kind of presents. Strangely enough, I got the feeling that there was something for me too. Lead by that feeling, I slowly opened the topmost drawer of my desk, whereupon there was an unbeknown envelope in there. It might have been left there for me…

Suppressing my impatience, I took out the envelop and check the inside, whereupon… Were it tear marks? The paper I pulled out had spots that had been wet here and there, and suddenly an uneasiness started to spread in my chest. At the same time, the headache from this morning came back. But I dropped my gaze onto the paper regardless.

—I’m sure you, Shinobu, and the others have forgotten about me, so this letter might be creepy to you. Of course I don’t mind if you throw it away. But please, at least read it until the end once.

First off, I’m sorry for not waiting until Christmas. I noticed that this house is really precious to me, that I love everyone and that my desire to stay with everyone grew larger from day to day.

I liked your place better than any place I had been to before.

So I got scared. I had to leave, because you all loved me and treated me as your friend or family. If I had stayed like that, I would have made everyone cry in the end like always.

I’m sick of that already. I definitely don’t want to see you guys crying.

Actually I don’t want you to forget, but it’s better this way. And even if you forget about me, I’ll never forget about you. I’ll never forget the time we spent together. I’ll remember by looking at the pictures of everyone. I’ll always love you.

It’s a bit early, but I put your Christmas present in the topmost drawer of your desk. You can throw away the letter, but at least, please don’t throw away the present. I think you and Luna will need it.

No matter how much I write, it’ll only make me cry, so I’ll come to an end now.

Lastly, I was really happy to be your family, even if it was only for a short time. I’m going to brag about it to the people I’ll meet from now on. I’ll brag a lot that I had the best family in the world. With the memories I have with all of you, I can live on. So you don’t have to remember, Shinobu. Forget about me and keep smiling together with everyone.

Sorry. I wanted to come to an end, but wrote so much again.

But now it’s really the end.

Shinobu, thanks for smiling with me. Thanks for all the treasures. Thank you so much for granting me such a warm place.

Best wishes from the second daughter of the Nanjou Family.

…I didn’t know the writer of the letter. There was no name written. But, while I read the letter, my lips started to tremble and the tears in my eyes blurred my vision. I had a terrible headache. Even so, I reached out for the topmost drawer without hesitation.

—It’s a bit early, but I put your Christmas present in the topmost drawer of your desk.

With my heart swayed by the words in the letter, I timidly opened the drawer and peeked inside, whereupon there were countless beautiful bracelets made of beads and a single memo.

“Merry Christmas! If you put these on, you won’t be affected by a devil’s influence! You can stay together with Luna forever! Good for you, Shinobu!”

Incredible bright words. A radiant kindness. My headache got worse. In the back of my mind floated the appearance of a leaving girl. While I kept looking at the present, the girl’s voice resounded in my heart.

“—, what are you doing there?”

“This? It’s a bracelet made from beads. It’s my power and feelings in it, so won’t just be an accessory, but a good charm.”

“You have really skilled fingers. By the way, what kind of effect has that charm?”

“Well, if you put it on, you will no longer be under a devil’s influence. It’s way more powerful than a talisman.”

Every time I was about to remember that bright voice, a strong headache confused my thoughts. A pain like grating my head. Clenching my teeth, I kept enduring it— I could hear a heartbeat.

Her warm heartbeat. The gentle lullaby from a different country. It erased my headache and the appearance of the girl gradually became more vivid in my mind.

Radiant silver hair. Crimson eyes like a ruby. A slender and delicate body. A smile like a bloomed flower. A slightly stupid behaviour that made everyone laugh. The little girl was a bit of a weirdo that called herself a Goddess. She wasn’t a freeloader in our house, but a precious family member.

“——”

What did I shout at that time? Was I shouting in anger or crying? With no time to think about that, I rushed out of my room and left the house.

…It was raining.

My head was full of memories. When we first met, she selfishly ate my hot dog and when the typhoon came, she came over to our house and lived with us from then on.

During the culture festival, she came to school to play. Even during the summer we were together at my grandfather’s vacation house. During the sports festival, she came to cheer. And she supported Machina in her election campaign.

In these memories, she was always smiling, made everyone smile, could get along with anyone and was liked by everyone. Even so— there were tear marks on the letter. I couldn’t get that picture out of my head.

—Ahh… I see. Everyone’s already gone.

She had been crying. Crying in her sleep. And I wanted to stop her tears.

So there was still time. There should still be enough time. I wanted one last chance. Just like back then, when she left our house once, I should bring her back home.

…It kept raining.

Amidst the cold rain on the streets, the many memories rewound and I kept searching desperately. At the riverbank, where she had lived until she came to live with us. At the park, where we had stopped Machina. At the nursery school, where she had worked.

I looked at every place I could think of. But she was nowhere. Nowhere. So she… probably abandoned the place she had belonged to.

“Tell me why… Elni.”

…It was raining.

And it surely would keep raining. This rain, which I couldn’t stop, would surely keep falling in her heart. From the ash-gray sky and from my own eyes, the rain kept falling… without pause or end.

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