Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818622175625189109
An hour’s drive.
We arrived at our destination, a large shopping mall. It was packed with everything from a grocery store to a movie theater, clothing stores, game centers, and restaurants. There was so much to see that it would be impossible to see everything in a single day.
“Wow!”
Yuzuha, the moody teenager, got out of the car and looked at the shopping mall with excitement in her eyes.
“We’ll be here all day, won’t we?”
My mother, the indiscriminate firepower bomb monster, followed suit.
“Ryo kun, where shall we start?”
Even though she had her family with her, the carefree yokai Toka naturally took my hand. What the hell is going on today? I never thought that when the Kuga family and Toka got together, such a terrible chemical reaction would occur!
“Ugh, it’s so crowded…”
My father, who parked on the roof, looks around with a weary expression. Indeed, there are an incredible number of cars and people.
“Is there some kind of event today?”
I muttered as I glanced at the poster at the rooftop entrance. It listed the event schedule. Hmm, they regularly hold various events like hero shows, balloon shows, and comedy events. What’s happening today?
“Huh?”
I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. No way, that can’t be…
“…”
It wasn’t a mistake. Sometimes these things happen, right? When you suddenly remember something, coincidences happen. Is it the power of words? Like, if you say it out loud, it might actually happen…
Today’s event was listed as follows.
“Kagurazaka Kaede Talk Show.”
◇
I entered the store and immediately checked the location of the event space. The event space was in the central plaza on the first floor. I had to make sure I didn’t go anywhere near there.
“Toka-neechan, what are you buying?”
“I want some clothes…”
“Can I come with you?”
“Sure.”
Toka and Yuzuha were having a cheerful conversation. As they were mixed in with the crowd, no one around them noticed Toka’s presence.
“Wait, I’m coming too!”
“What do you mean? Of course you are, Ryo-kun.”
Toka is staring blankly, unaware of what is going on. If Kagurazaka Kaede is here, then naturally the people from that agency are here too… If things go badly, Toka’s former manager might even be here. If we run into them, it won’t just be awkward.
“Well, Mom and Dad are shopping for groceries downstairs, so let’s meet up later.”
While my mother was saying that, I was keeping a close eye on my surroundings.
An apparel shop on the second floor.
Toka and Yuzuha are looking at clothes together. Sunglasses are weird indoors, so I have to find something for Toka to disguise herself with…
“Onii chan has been acting suspiciously for a while now…”
Like two bodyguards, I never let my guard down. I don’t want to see that former manager, let alone Kagurazaka Kaede.
“Ah!”
As I was looking around the store, I found just the right thing. I’ll put this on Toka!
“Toka, Yuzuha!”
I called the two of them over and showed them the hat.
“Isn’t this cute?”
The hat I found was a white beret with a cute dark blue ribbon.
“Ryo-kun likes this kind of thing, doesn’t he?”
“I like it! I like it! Just put it on for now!”
“Huh?”
“I’ll buy Yuzuha the same one in a different color!”
I decided to buy Yuzuha the same design in a light green color. If the two of them wore these hats, they might look like real sisters! I hurriedly grabbed the hats and headed to the register.
After paying, we stepped outside the store and had the two of them try on the hats. Even though I chose them randomly, they were more expensive than I expected, and it was a big hit to my wallet. I couldn’t buy anything else today.
“Wow, it’s cute.”
“Toka looks refreshing with a hat on.”
“This way, no one will notice my messy hair.”
“That’s not how you’re supposed to use it!”
Oh no, the disguise isn’t as effective as I thought. If anything, it makes them look cute and stand out even more.
“Ugh, why do I have to…”
Yuzuha mutters as she puts on the hat.
“Hey, Yuzuha looks good in it too.”
“Eeeeeh, Onii chan said I look good in it!”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Because I thought onii chan hated me…”
“When, where, and why did that happen!?”
Yuzuha started saying things I had no memory of!
“Because I’ve been feeling bad towards you lately…”
Suddenly, Yuzuha told me that. The reason why Yuzuha shut herself in her room and became cold. I think it’s definitely my fault, not because Toka is here. Maybe she didn’t know how to treat her brother who brought his girlfriend home. We’ve been together for many years, so it’s natural to feel that way.
“Haa… I don’t really care about that.”
“What!?”
“If I were in her position, I think I’d feel the same way as Yuzuha. If Yuzuha brought a boyfriend home, I wouldn’t know how to act either.”
“I could never have a boyfriend…”
“Well, Yuzuha is my sister, so I don’t think I’d ever hate her no matter what happens.”
When I said that, Yuzuha pulled her beret down low over her eyes.
“…You’ve always been so sneaky, Onii chan.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you say things like that, it makes me sound like the bad guy.”
Even as she said that, Yuzuha’s voice had softened a little. It felt like the moodiness of a teenage monster had faded just a little.
“It’s nice to be siblings.”
Toka, who had been watching the scene, joined the conversation.
“Really? This is normal.”
“It’s nice to have siblings who are related by blood. There used to be a girl who called me her older sister.”
“Older sister? Who?”
“Kagurazaka…”
Just as Toka was about to say something, a store announcement sounded.
“There will be a talk show with the talented child actress Kagurazaka Kaede in the event space on the first floor. If you have time, please stop by. Customers who spend over 3,000 yen will receive a gift from Kagurazaka san…”
“…”
“…”
Silence fell between Toka and Yuzuha.
I had forgotten about the possibility of an announcement in the store… Five minutes after shopping, the hat strategy was wasted.
“Oh~, Kagurazaka Kaede is here. I might want to take a look.”
Yuzuha, who knew nothing, said something very carefree. What should I do? What is the right thing to do in this case?
“What? She’s here?”
“She!?”
“Yuzuha chan, let’s go see her.”
Toka said that and pulled down the brim of her beret.
Eeeeh! She’s eager to go see her!
“Ryo-kun, you’re not allowed to look at Kaede-san.”
“Why!? If the two of you are going, I’m going too!”
“If I say no, it’s absolutely no! If Ryo-kun falls for Kaede-san, I’ll cry.”
“Who would do that!? Why would that happen!”
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