Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818792436241958230
“Help?”
Kagurazaka stared at me, her mouth hanging open.
“Like I said before, Kaede-san, you worry too much about me. I’ve told you countless times not to worry about me.”
Touka’s chin rested on my shoulder.
“So, I’ll help you out too, so no one says you failed at training.”
“B-but how…?”
“Actually, I have a good idea. But it’s not decided yet that you’ll be blamed, so just wait a bit.”
“……”
H-really…? I had no idea Toka had ideas like that!
“Kagurazaka-san, I’ll help too if there’s anything I can do.”
“Boyfriend onii chan…”
“By the way, my name is Ryo.”
The straps on the backpack behind me tightened with a sharp tug.
It hurts, it hurts! Don’t choke me with your arms around my neck! This backpack has way too much personality!
“Well, maybe you’re worrying too much about things that might not even happen. Remember what Toka said before? ‘Kaede-san has long since surpassed the old me.’ I think you can trust those words. No matter what others say, the fact that you’ve worked so hard up until now doesn’t change, right?”
“The things I’ve worked hard for until now…?”
“Believe in yourself more. Otherwise, you’ll just feel sorry for your past self.”
“My past self…”
“Yeah. And because you worked so hard, Toka and I were able to meet—Hey, what’s with you all of a sudden?!”
I was trying to talk seriously, but Toka’s resistance was so strong I couldn’t help but turn around.
“I absolutely won’t forgive cheating.”
“Where’s the idiot who cheats right in front of his girlfriend?!”
“So you’d cheat because it wasn’t right in front of me?”
“That’s not what I meant—!”
Ugh! She’s behind me, so I can’t get to Toka! She’s clinging to my back like a spider, skillfully squeezing me tight. Spider-Man?! No, she’s a girl! Someone do something about this Spider-Toka!
“Ah-ha, ahahahahaha!”
Seeing us like this, Kagurazaka suddenly burst out laughing.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
“Nee chan looks really happy.”
“This looks happy?”
“Yeah, it does.”
Kagurazaka smiled brightly at us. It was a smile different from Touka’s SSR smile, a smile as wide and clear as a summer blue sky.
“I want a wonderful boyfriend like Ryo-nii too…”
“Ha?”
Ouch, ouch, ouch! Toka’s grip tightened even more.
“Ryo-nii, from now on, you can just call me Kaede. You always seemed to have trouble saying my name.”
“Huh? Huh?”
“I’ll call you Ryo-chan too…”
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?”
Toka’s voice echoed throughout the lobby. The hotel staff looked over, startled.
“Why ‘chan’!?”
“Ryo-nii-chan. Shortened to Ryo-chan. It’s more familiar that way.”
“But that familiarity only seems to increase Toka’s murderous intent!?”
Oh, oh no, the grip is too tight, my vision’s starting to go white.
“Nee chan, is it okay to call your boyfriend that?”
“No way!”
Toka whispered low in my ear.
“The moment you call him ‘Ryo-chan,’ I’ll sink you in that ocean.”
“That’s a huge-scale threat!”
Kagurazaka was giggling as she watched us. Ah, she’s totally enjoying this.
“Hehe, Nee chan really is my idol.”
“What part of that was idol-worthy!?”
“All of it.”
Kagurazaka stuck her tongue out at me. The gloomy mood from earlier was gone. She was back to her usual bright self.
◇
“See, I told you it’d turn out just like I said!”
“What the hell are you talking about!?”
Even after returning to the room, Toka wouldn’t leave my side! Her protesting voice followed me constantly from behind.
“I told you, Ryo-kun, you’d become popular someday! I said lots of people would notice your charm!”
“Ah, well… thank you.”
“You’re happy about it!?”
My back and stamina were at their limit, so I just collapsed onto the bed.
“I just couldn’t ignore her since she is your junior, Toka.”
“Uuuuuu…”
“Besides, Kagurazaka arranged this trip. I owe her my gratitude too.”
“I do too, but…”
“You said what you did because you care about Kagurazaka too, right?”
“……”
Finally, Toka’s grip loosened slightly.
“…Really, Ryo-kun, you’re so soft.”
Toka pressed her forehead against my back and murmured softly. This time, her hand came around to my waist.
“But I like that kind of Ryo-kun.”
No clever reply came to me. Just the warmth radiating through my back felt strangely comforting, and I stayed like that for a little while.
“…By the way, what was that thing you said about Kagurazaka?”
“What did I say?”
“You said you’d cooperate.”
“It’s still a secret. Personally, it’s something I’d rather not do.”
She really does seem to have something planned. How does she intend to stop Kagurazaka from calling it a “failed cultivation”? Changing people’s opinions around you seems incredibly difficult to me.
“If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
Both Toka and Kagurazaka are truly amazing. While I spent my childhood without a care, these kids worked desperately hard, trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. They tried their absolute hardest to make everyone happy. They weren’t people who only worked hard for themselves. I respect them both from the bottom of my heart.
“Oh, it’s already this late! I should get ready for bed soon! But I kinda wanna explore the hotel too!”
“Ryo-kun, Ryo-kun!”
Toka tugged at the hem of my shirt.
“Let’s take a bath together.”
“……”
“Want to take a bath together?”
“It’s fine. I heard you.”
She’d been saying it since morning, after all. So, I was ready for this! Hmph, from this point on, I’m not just going to be dragged around by Toka.
“Sure, let’s take one together!”
“Huh!?”
Even though she was the one who brought it up, Toka suddenly started flustered.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !