Vol 3 Chapter 12 (1/2)

17th of May, Friday

Sixteen Year Old Birthday The Place of My Memories

After school, Mariko and I headed towards the station and got on the bus Since we just left school, ere still in our uniforms

Mariko's pale chestnut hair was of length where it barely touched her shoulders, it oozed the usual cal her around, I somehow felt relieved

But, it was troubling that o towards her breasts, hidden under the uniform's ribbon It's 100 my fault

We sat on the bus' two seater, in close contact I felt ht at Mariko's knees, and ere shaken together on the bus

As I faced doards Mariko asked ”What happened? Are you okay?” worried

I responded with a smile

”I'”

There was me, anted to care aboutoff that existence

I decided to celebrate the birthday with Mariko Everyone had encouraged and pushed s

As I was in lost in thoughts, the bus arrived in front of the station

I didn't speak with Mariko all that much I-it's a date so I have to take lead

We got off the bus in front of the station's traffic circle, then rode on a private railway and headed to Tokyo's station Since we rode on the private JR raile didn't have to transfer

We arrived in Tokyo's Ikebukuro station If any, I think it's located in close to the Saitama Prefecture

When I told her that, Mariko chuckled

Mariko said ”Ikebukuro is part of Saita quite unreasonable

Speaking of which, when I was doing date practice with Tomomi I listed Ikebukuro as one of the location candidates for the date

There were quite a few stores for otakus, it was also famous for Otome Road and such

On the east was Akihabara Ikebukuro in the north Nakano in the west The International Exhibition Centre was in the south, two ti festival perfors

Hmm, there's no topic to touch with Mariko

While I thought such things, Mariko looked into my face curiously She said ”Can it be that you're not feeling good? Are you forcing yourself?” worrying

Not good For a while now, I' fun

No wait, if I try pretending to have fun, Mariko et worried

”Ah, no, that's I just thought Ikebukuro is very lively My condition is flawless Sorry Mariko It's my birthday, but I'm still like this”

She shook her head energetically After that, ”Don't say sorry or think anything like that It's fine even if you don't force yourself to have fun” like that, as if reading ently

And then, Mariko lowered her head and started estures with her hands

”Uo?”

I took her hand I gently held it At times like this man has to lead

Mariko let out a quiet ”ah!”, but didn't seehtly, her cheeks were dyed red

Her hand was slightly moist Seems like she was nervous, my hand was the same I intended to maintain conscious at nor faster on its own

Side by side, holding hands, we started walking

We exited the busy station pree and entered the western department store

Mariko suddenly stopped and said this to me

”I'm sorry! Actually I already prepared the present”

So she didn't want me to choose one

When I asked her, Mariko said ”I wanted to ride a train and do so the true purpose of today's outing

”In that case you should have said so”

It was a shtly stuck out her tongue as she apologized

While esture, Mariko e

I was still lying to Mariko, in continuous tense that is I kept silent about having little sisters and lied about it If anything, I should be the one apologizing

On the other hand, ould happen if I let it out here The birthday party ht not even happen

Until today, Mariko continued to prepare forof that, I felt like I shouldn't say it

We circled around the departether Girls really do enjoy this, even if they're not buying anything, do they

On the floor with luxury bags and shoes lined up, I glanced at Mariko to see how she reacts

When she looked at the price ”Uwaa Expensive I wonder if rich people buy these hmm” she muttered, moved

”Do you want so like this, Mariko?”

She shook her head sideways And then ”From time to time, I think 'it's cute!' but, I'm more surprised by the price and I' shyly

It's really hard to get a grasp on her, that Mariko

Naturally, we held hands as alked side by side

If I ith everyone if I touched my little sisters, would I be calm like this

So Mariko with everyone Though I say co, it wasn't who's better, but rather the difference im impressions

How about co them to animals

Selene was like a cat When it's cold she stays where it's hot When it's hot, she's good at finding cool places She see places comfortable for her

Toy, she see, she'd be the first one to jump outside

Sayuri would be either a fox or a raccoon At first she fooled h she turned into a char racoon When she transforms well, Sayuri is perfect

Yuuki see animal Quiet and calm, like an elephant or a whale She's worried about her height so I can't tell her that That's why, though I don't think it'll happen, if she asks ”what kind of animal would you liken ility and her ears standing upright act like a sensor

Mika would be a hauess Small and cute, if you let your eyes off her, before you realize she's in so place If you stimualte her curiousity, it seems like she'd run endlessly

Mariko gives off a feeling of a squirrel It's not like she's good at cliive off an impression of someone who'd stuff her cheeks with acorn this, is ultimately just my impression

Suddenly, I had a thought I didn't learn much about Mariko since we have reunited That's why, even if I try to liken her to an aniht she's like a squirrel

With a worried expression, Mariko asked me ”can it be that you're bored?”

daht in front ofof everyone

”No such thing”

Mariko responded with ”that's great” and breathed out with relief

I shook my head in my mind, then drove the little sisters out of my head

And yet, everyone's faces floated in et away from my little sisters

We headed upstairs on the escalator with Mariko We looked past the stores withand toy's exhibition space, as left was only the top floor

As we headed to the top floor no the escalator, Mariko retfully ”We've already come up to the top floor”

”Where to next?”

She raised her eyebrows troubled and ”U”, and blushed shyly

So she didn't usually she's very neatly prepared, that was sloppy of Mariko

No, that's wrong I one-sidedly labelled Mariko as ”neat girl” She too, is just a norirl

IF she didn't plan anything, it's rather a chance for ood to take a look at stores located along the Shansain street

The otten to the top floor on escalator, s stopped at once

I don't knoas it, but the scenery I knew spread out in front of me

The stores in the interior were different, but I knew the atmosphere of this floor

Why did the word ”know” had come to my mind

Inan illusion as if I could heart my heartbeat, I couldn't stand in one place

”Where's this floor's elevator?!”

As I suddenly raised my voice ”Eh? Hey, what happened, suddenly?” Mariko seemed confused

Still holding Mariko's hand, I hurriedly looked for the elevator

That's right My hand pulled by that person, I have came to this floor all at once many times To head to that place, located on this floor

That's why I had to find the elevator

Mariko made an astounded expression and was pulled by hand by me

I ioal

When I stood in the back of the elevator, I have fit perfectly in my memory

After getting off the elevator, I walked straight ahead The end of the road, innerht in front of it

Mariko acted timidly Pulled by me ”This it feels very like showa period” she muttered The restaurant had a retro atmosphere

Ever since I was a child, it had aged like this

The place of ed place

The showcase in front of the restaurant had various saed for a long time, the samples themselves were old

A them, I found children's lunch

On the dish, there was oer, fried shrimp

The set's desert was pudding parfait

Mariko tilted her head ”Can it be, that you're hungry?” she asked, worrying about me

”U-um, that's not it”

From the restaurant's entrance I looked inside My eyes were naturally drawn to the seats by theof the outlook restaurant

The seat with scenery outlook Like a powder snow falling, my memory was revived

When the elevator's door opened, we entered the top floor I walked, ht towards the end of the path, to an outlook restaurant Lined-up in the glass showcase were chocolate parfaits, pudding parfaits, fried shrilace sauce

Back then, just like today it was a special day Eat whatever you like, Uncle said

I told Uncle I want to eat everything, and he sently

”Then, a children's lunch”

The fried shrile dish Pudding parfait for the desert All of it my favourites and they were all delicious

After fillingcreaht

On that day too, it was my birthday

That's right I re I remember all

Uncle——Jinya-san, back then e celebrated my birthday, said this

It was a simple yet serious question

At first, I didn't knoas theof it

But, while I was a child, despite being a child, that proposal see

That's why I responded with ”Yup!”

I chose with my oill, the future I am in now

And yet, I coot about it

Since Jinya-san no longer came, I acted selfishly and troubled Grandpa and Grandma

When I asked why Jinya-san doesn't cory

And I was told to forget about Jinya-san He no longer caet and give up

Back then I was sad I thought I was abandoned by Jinya-san Also, I loved Grandpa and Grandma, I decided to thin out Jinya-san's existence in my heart

Right now, I could understand both Jinya-san's and Grandpa's feelings

Back then, surely, Jinya-san wanted to pick ether

But Jii-chan didn't allow it

Having little sisters, of women other than ive such a thing

Jinya-san wanted to make me his ally

With his pure feelings, he must have asked me that question

There was no way to tell what'll happen at this point but I responded with ”yup!” on that day, back then I was happy I felt like I have gained a lot of treasure

The important treasure Family little sisters

”Sorry, Mariko! I need to go!”

Mariko opened her eyes wide ”Go? Where to?” and tilted her head

”I need to go back toI have to tell them!”

I quietly let go of her hand

Mariko stood in that place From her mouth ”little sisters?” had leaked out

She had a strange expression It wasn't angry or sad, it was a dazed on where she forgot such feelings

Sorry I'm really sorry I'm really really sorry

I was still confused o

I ran There was no time to wait for the elevator I ju around the floors, ran out of the departate

To be there even if a second faster

The birthday Mariko prepared for me was cancelled in the worst possible way

I regretted it, but it was already too late

Led by Mariko, I was able to stand in the place of my memories on the day I was born, was it a coincidence? Or maybe it's what they call fate

No, including this ti, was surely a coincidence

That's why, noout this lucky coincidence, it won't be enough

And yet I betrayed Mariko, returned good with evil

My feelings turned blank But I made my choice

Give up

Mariko can no longer act like an excuse

I have chosen everyone my little sisters

Even if I wasn't helped by Mariko by chance, I would have stopped at this place of memories one day And recall just like I did today But at that tis would have already separated, the relation with Taishi+do would have been cut as well

It would have been too late

No, anyhow, if I didn't choose, the chance I break up with everyone would be just as high as it is now

Still, I wanted to say it

Before we all separate, once again, I wanted to confront with everyone

When I arrived at the nearest station, the bus has just arrived I exhaled with relief and jumped off At premises of the station I sprinted the entire time, on the seat of the bus for a while I continued to breathe roughly afterwards My smartphone was still quiet

Suddenly, I wondered if I have fallen out of Mariko's grace

Getting of the bus, I stood in front of Taishi+do residence

I looked up at the building

Thinking of it now, e space all of it, ht up by Jinya-san

Rushi+ng through the mansion's lobby, I rushed to Mika's room on the second floor

The ti