Vol 8 Chapter 1 (2/2)

“You took an unexpected long bath, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”

“Yeah, I waited all the time for you coming in as well.”

“I, Is that so. Then I will scrub your back on the next occasion.”

I declared to the somewhat bashful acting Kaorun with a smile.

“Thanks. That makes me really happy, but it’s embarra.s.sing, so I’m afraid that I’ll pa.s.s.”

“…You are as shy as ever. But do not worry about it. One of these days, I will secretly sneak into the bath of the Nanjou household, so please look forward to that.”

Kaorun, readily saying something outrageous, moved her gaze to the fainted Hijiri and then shrugged her shoulders lightly.

“It was such a good chance, but she just is not making use of it.”

“…Mh? Don’t tell me, you saw it all?”

“No, I took my leave right away, but judging by this situation, I can conclude that the plan ended in a failure. It just will not turn out alright. So troubling.”

Uhm, more probably I was the troubled one here. My reasoning had a limit. I wished she understood that I went through a lot of troubles as well.

Making a small sigh, I faced Hijiri and opened my mouth.

“Kaorun, please take care of Hijiri. As you can see, she’s resting.”

“…Her sleeping face makes me want to play some kind of prank, but I will try my best to control myself. Meanwhile, should I also help you out with your change of clothes, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama?”

“No! Stay away! I’m going to call for help!”

I backed off from Kaorun, who suspiciously moved both her hands, while replying with drivel.

---In the next moment.

The knot of the towel must have come undone. With other flattering sound, the towel wrapped around my waist fell onto the floor of the anteroom.

Instantly, Kaorun widened her eyes and flushed her cheeks in a flash.

“M- Meooow!”

Raising a hysteric voice, she hastily ran away.

….Meow, huh. My first time hearing such a voice. Kind of cute.

With a distant look, I thought like that as if it didn’t concern me.

Without doubt people called that escaping from reality.

In the end, Hijiri didn’t wake up and stayed unconscious. And like Hijiri had said, her mother and little brother were going to eat outside, so Elni and I didn’t catch a sight of them, enjoying the meal in a threesome with Kaorun.

And on our leave I pulled the half-asleep Elni on her hand to my bicycle, whereupon Kaorun, who came to see us off, pulled out a talisman from her pocket and handed it to me.

“The Master entrusted me with this. It is supposed to be a present for you, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”

“For me? Really? Can I really accept something so expensive…?”

“What are you saying, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama? It is just a sc.r.a.p of paper. Please use it to wipe your nose.”

“Well, I won’t use it for that… but yeah, I’ll hand it to a crying girl instead of a handkerchief.”

“Oh my, how wonderful. If the girl knew of the value of the talisman, she would feel like you had told her to wipe her tears with banknotes and probably beat you to a pulp. That said, I would beat you up either way…”

“Yeah, I also think that’s the right reaction.”

While playing along with her joke, I sat Elni on the bicycle, whereupon Kaorun suddenly lowered her head a bit.

“Thank you very much for today, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”

“Mh? I should be saying thanks, no? Not only did I receive training, but you also treated me to dinner.”

When I replied so, Kaorun raised her head and smiled softly.

“Hijiri-chan was really pleased. You come paying a visit more often now and Minami-sama also started to come by to play, so Hijiri-chan has always been in a good mood.”

…Could it be, Hijiri never could invite friends over due to her family’s profession until now?

On Kaorun’s warm words, I felt a faint pain running through my chest, though it might have just been my imagination.

Amidst that, Kaorun lowered her head once more, saying her thanks. However, when she raised her head, she mumbled somewhat sadly.

“…After all… I want… Hijiri-chan… normal….”

Unable to hear half of the small mumbling, I t.i.tled my head in my heart and left the Gogyou Mansion behind me by waving my hand with a “See you”. And then on the way home, Elni clung onto my back by leaning onto me from the back of the bicycle and still looked rather sleepy.

The twinkling stars in the night sky, the warm lights of the surroundings houses and a soft wind stroke my cheeks. Slowly pedalling my bicycle, I turned around my head and softly called out to Elni.

“Are you okay? It would be dangerous, so don’t fall asleep until we’re home, okay?”

“Mmh~ I will positively reconsider….”

She was done for, really.

Smitten by her silver hair fluttering in the soft wind, I s.h.i.+fted my vision from Elni with sleepy eyes to the front. Following, I started talking with “Reminds me” to keep her from falling asleep.

“You were already sleeping at Hijiri’s house. Did you stay up late?”

“Yeah. I helped Nazucat with her homework until late into the night.”

Still with a sleepy voice, Elni continued with “But”.

“I didn’t get the math questions at all, since they were so difficult. I believe the world doesn’t need math.”

“…The world wouldn’t function with just rough guesses.”

Replying half-wearily, I returned to the house without stopping the chit-chat, but Elni wouldn’t get off my back and had fallen asleep without time for me to caution her.

Left with no other choice, I carried Elni on my back and while getting excited at heart over the soft sensation of her thighs on my hands and her sweet fragrance, I opened the front door.

There a beautiful female in maid clothes showed up from the living room right away.

Soft, emerald-green eyes. Tender, white skin. Despite her otherwise slender body, a bust with an overwhelming volume that was recognizable even through clothes.

The fascinating girl, who emitted an aura of neatness, was Luna. The natural erotic big sister of our house and a devil, despite her looks.

Luna must have taken quite the liking to the maid clothes that Kaorun presented her on her earlier birthday. She habitually wore them for the house ch.o.r.es and as soon as she recognized Elni and me, she came rus.h.i.+ng over with her waist-long, blonde hair swaying.

“Welcome home, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, Elni-chan.”

Along with a smile, she tightly clung onto me.

Instantly, her pretty voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s softly changed shaped on my chest. Moreover, Luna brought her glamorous lips closer and placed a kiss on my cheeks as a greeting.

…F- For some reason, ever since her birthday party, I got the feeling that Luna had become more a.s.sertive with her physical contact.

Although this much might only be normal for a foreigner, I felt uneasy.

Soft, well-formed and warm, sweet lips. I perfectly froze up on their sensation, when Elni on my back apparently woke up.

“Oh, s.h.i.+n.o.bu is as red as a candy apple.”

Seeing my face, she gave this impression and slowly got off my back.

There Luna t.i.tled her head puzzled. Still clinging to me, she took a small sniff and smiled softly.

“Somehow, you smell nice, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san.”

“Apparently it’s a lady-killer scent. Though it’s faint now, as I borrowed Kaorun’s shampoo.”

“Ehm~ You already took a bath, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san?”

Before I could answer this casual question, Elni sleepy nodded a “Yeah”.

“Kaorun told me that he took a bath together with Hijiri.”

“……Eh?”

On Elni’s words, Luna got away from me and froze up, still smiling.

Wh- What unnecessary things was she spilling! When I resentful glared at Elni, she sleepy opened her eyes.

“Uwah! I carelessly run my mouth! Sorry!”

As her sleepiness was blown away, Elni ran away in an escape, heading for the living room.

On the other hand, Luna sulking puffed up her cheeks a bit and stared at me silently.

That behaviour was kind of cute, but I hastily explained.

“No, you got it wrong. I unluckily fell for Kaorun’s trap. It wasn’t my idea, you hear? And while I certainly took a bath together with Hijiri, I didn’t do anything.”

“…But, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, I take it that you were happy about it?”

“Yes, quite so!”

As I honestly consented, Luna puffed up her cheeks even more and asked with teary eyes.

“Can I take a bath with you as well next time, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san? I want to wash your back.”

“…As long as you get the permission from my office.”

“I understand. I will go ask Tomoe-san right away.”

“Ah, wait! Forget that! There are things I can’t do, even with the permission of the office!”

Most likely my mother wouldn’t care for my feelings and readily give the go-sign. Having Luna wash my back would certainly be like having Obon and New Year on the same day. But I didn’t want to do anything that put my reasoning to the test.

I hastily stopped Luna, who had sparkles in her eyes, and distracted her vaguely.

“Luna, I’ll ask you to wash my back when I feel like it…”

“…Is that so. Well then, please ask me whenever you feel like it. I will be waiting.”

I personally considered it a half-a.s.sed coverage, but for Luna it might have been sufficient. She smiled happily and hugged me once more. Then she went back to the living room while smiling. Following after her, I also went into the living room, whereupon I saw two females watching TV together with Elni.

The beautiful girl with the long, red hair was Machina Liebelei Orangelo. She was Luna’s little stepsister, a hybrid devil and one of the freeloaders at our house.

Amber almond eyes. A smooth nose bridge and lips that looked like pink petals. Moreover, her perfect body line that would embarra.s.s a gravure idol was dazzling in my eyes.

And the other female— with white skin, fine chiselled features and balanced proportions like a model, was Nanjou Tomoe. My mother.

Following their gazing, the TV showed the ending theme of some kind of drama and Machina cried overcome with emotions.

A bit curious, I called out to her.

“Hey, Machina. Was the drama so good that you would cry?”

“Yes. The last time I cried so deeply moved was when I watched t.i.t*nic—wait, I’m not crying yet! Don’t say weird things! Also, welcome home, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”

“Yeah, I’m home. Here, use my handkerchief.”

“…Thanks.”

Stopping her tough act, Machina obediently took the handkerchief from me.

Seeing that, Elni also held out a handkerchief to my mother, who had teary eyes just like Machina.

“Here, for you as well, Tomoe-san.”

“…How considerate.”

I watched over this situation with Luna next to me, when a short, young girl appeared out of the dining kitchen.

Innocent, big eyes and slender, long arms and legs. This young girl, resembling an adorable kitten, was my little sister Nanjou Nazuna, an 8th grader.

She must have been doing the dishes. She wore a ap.r.o.n with cat ill.u.s.trations printed on it and smiled when she saw me.

“Welcome home, Brother! Meow!”

“Yeah, I’m home, Nazucat. You’re in a rather good mood. Did something good happen?”

“Yeah, it did. Thanks for asking.”

Nazuna, thanking me with a smile, moved her gaze to everyone and cleared her throat with a cough to get the attention. She opened her mouth with a meek face.

“Actually, I have some big news for you today.”

“Big news? What is it? I already know about Machina getting stilettos from a junior girl with the request ‘Please step on me”.”

When I interjected half-teasingly, Machina turned bright red and raised a voice like expected.

“Hey, s.h.i.+n.o.bu! I told you to keep it a secret! Why are you telling everyone!”

“…Forgive me, my Queen.”

“Fufu, I won’t let you off so easily. I’ll gently mess you up <3 as=”” if!=”” who=”” are=”” you=”” calling=”” queen!=”” and=”” why=”” is=”” everyone=”” at=”” school=”” calling=”” me=”” that=”” as=””>

“A real mystery. Even though you’re so cute.”

Well, it was the reason I also ended up teasing her though…

Adding that in my heart, I petted Machina’s head apologetic.

Upon that, Machina faced sideways with “…I won’t be fooled”, but started to smile while having her head petted and narrowed her eyes pleasant. There I moved my gaze back to Nazuna to get back on topic.

“So, Nazuna, what’s this big news?”

“Yeah, your school has it’s sports festival soon, right?”

“Yeah, now that you mention it, it’s already time for it again:”

Sometime around next week, our cla.s.s would surely discuss the sports festival. I made an agreeable response and listened to Nazuna.

“So you see, the seniors sadly are going to retire from the club after the sports festival. So today during club activates, we discussed who would be the next captain of the karate club.”

Midway in her sentence, Nazuna threw out her chest with pride and grinned ear to ear.

“Everyone recommended me as the next captain. The current captain and our adviser also gave the okay, so I became the captain!”

“…That sure is big news. Way to go.”

I knew that unlike me, Nazuna was popular at school. However not only was she popular, but also respected…

While I opened my eyes wide, Luna smiled so happily as if concerned herself and my mother was also smiling. Machina and Elni gave joyful looks and both praised Nazuna.

“You’re amazing, Nazuna. Everyone acknowledged you. So wonderful.”

“Yeah, just like Machina said, it’s wonderful. Okay, from this point on, the name Mad Dog will be yours, Nazucat.”

“Mhm~ I appreciate the thought, El-chan, but I prefer cats.”

“Then how about Super Cat?”

…Such a weak alias for the captain of the karate club.

As such kind of rude thoughts crossed my mind, Nazuna clung to me spoiled and begged me like that.

“Hey Brother, I think I’ll have to become even stronger now that I’m the captain. So I want you to spar with me. Will you help me out right away?”

“Well, if that’s how it is, I’ll help you out, but you’re quite energetic, huh. You stayed up late last night doing homework with Elni, right? Aren’t you tired?”

When I asked doubtful, Nazuna made a peace-sign and replied.

“I slept soundly during cla.s.s today, so I’m fine!”

Nazuna said something negligent so openly.

However, she must have noticed her verbal slip right away. Nazuna hastily covered her mouth with both her hands, but it was too late. On Nazuna’s words, my mother made a big sigh.

“Geez, your friend Miichan is so capable with studying, but my daughter is still the same, even after getting elected as the captain. So pitiful for my own child.”

While saying so, my mother faced me and sighed once more with “Moreover…”.

“My eldest son has a sister complex, the face of a Yakuza and is a playboy. It’s the worst. Even though he was so cute it the past when he called himself s.h.i.+nomun….”

“Sorry, Mom. I graduated from s.h.i.+nomun. I was reborn from cute into dandy. So give up on it.”

“…I can’t give up so easily. I thought you would become a lady-killer, but now you’re just a fas.h.i.+on-killer.”

The instant my mother pa.s.sed a rather rude evaluation onto me, Luna, who had stayed quiet so far, frowned and interjected.

“Tomoe-san! Please take a closer look! s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san looks like a wolf, which is cool! Your words make no sense! Please take it back!”

“…Y- Yes. I’m sorry. I was stupid. Please forgive me, Luna-sama.”

With a faintly trembling voice, my mother curled herself up frightened.

I didn’t think that she was acting.

Ago, my mother had made Luna drink alcohol for fun and apparently made a frightening experience, so when Luna came on strong ever since then, she became like a scolded puppy just like right now.

In other words, the power balance in our household had completely crumbled. My mother, who reigned at the pinnacle of the pyramid until just recently, had given the throne to Luna.

That said, I could completely understand it. If Luna were to seriously get angry with me, I might be ready to prostrate myself on the ground before her.

While such thoughts crossed my mind, my mother left the living room in a hurry.

“B- Brother, spar with me already.”

And Nazuna also moved to the garden in an escape. I then slowly followed after her while Elni and Machina looked out into the garden and said both sincere.

“But still, Nazuna as the captain, huh.”

“Somehow, Nazuna looks so grown up.”

“…A human’s life is short after all. Soon Nazucat will be in high school and after that in university.”

“Nazuna is cute, so I’m sure she’ll get a boyfriend by that time…”

“Then she’ll marry and leave this house.”

On Elni’s words, Machina sadly cast her eyes down. Upon that, Elni embraced Machina at the shoulders and made a suggestion with a serious face.

“Hey Honey, let’s make a boy tonight.”

“Yes, Darling---wait, no! How did it suddenly become like we’re married!? If I’m going to marry, it’s going to be with someone that has an evil look, a bad mouth, only fools around, but is surprisingly kind! I don’t want you as my husband, Elni!”

“Say that again! I won’t lose to s.h.i.+n.o.bu! I might not look like it, but I’m the devoting type!”

“N- No one said anything about marrying s.h.i.+n.o.bu---wait, hey! Don’t cling to me out of the blue! Ahaha, no tickling either!”

Hearing the voices of Elni and Machina, who were most likely dallying around, behind my back, I slipped on my sandals and went out into the garden. There, Luna’s flowerbed in the works entered the corner of my vision and I saw Nazuna wearing sport shoes, perfectly prepared.

Nazuna made eye-contact with me, pointed her finger at me and declared strongly.

“One attack.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll defeat you with one attack.”

“…That’s quite cool. But one attack, you say? Fine, just try if you can, Missy.”

The instant I replied with a joking delinquent tone, Nazuna made a leap, closing the distance in no time. She launched a dropkick at me too fast for the eyes.

However, she still had a lot of unneeded movements. She made too many unnecessary noises. If I used my sharpened senses, I could dodge an attack of this level with my eyes closed.

Therefore, I pulled back my body a bit and dodged the kick. There Nazuna instantly twisted her body in midair and made a backward roundhouse kick with a wind-cutting sound.

…I had read that attack from her previous preparation movement, but she sure pulled it off. As always, her athletic ability was impressive.

Mentally impressed, I ducked down and dodged the kick. Following, I swiftly reached out my hand for Nazuna’s back, who was full of openings now, and stopped her movements with a cat-grip. Then I look into Nazuna’s face, as she was struggling around, and asked provokingly.

“---So? Weren’t you going to defeat me in one attack, Ma’am Captain?”

“I’m sorry. I withdraw my previous statement. It was completely impossible.”

“Good. Be careful with your choice of words from now on.”

Releasing Nazuna after a small lecture, I then took her on again, but she really was no match for me.

Like my father and grandfather, Nazuna had far a better athletic ability and reflexes than an average person. However she relied on that too much, thus lacking the ability to read feints.

Of course she was pretty capable fighting despite that. No middle schooler was a match for Nazuna. But the kicks or fists Nazuna launched at me were parried, brushed away and pushed off, making all of her attacks ineffective. If there was an opening, I whipped Nazuna off her feet, making her fall on the ground.

As Nazuna absorbed her falls, there shouldn’t be any real damage.

But, when the count of her falling to the ground went into the double digits, Nazuna kept laying on the ground without getting up, as she had given up, and asked doubtful.

“…Could it be you’re also using techniques not from the Nanjou School, Brother?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m surprised you noticed.”

“Yeah, somehow, it was different from fighting with Dad. But why do you know such a variety of techniques, Brother? You only went to grandpa’s dojo so far, right?”

“Well, I fought with a lot of different schools. It got some grave injuries in it, but in exchange I had a chance to observe their techniques.”

And if there was a technique I liked, I stole it.

Even if I trained like my father or grandfather, I couldn’t surpa.s.s them.

We were born with different faculties. Our starting lines were too far apart. I was unable to catch up, running at the same speed. So I needed other means.

That said, it was unnecessary for Nazuna the genius.

The Nazuna in question straightened up her upper body

“You’re amazing, Brother!”

and sparkled her eyes, but

“…Actually you’re the amazing one.”

I replied so in a small voice.

But Nazuna must have not heard it. She tilted her head and looking into my sister’s pure eyes, I asked casually.

“Hey, don’t you actually want to return to gramps’ dojo?”

Upon entering middle school, my father forbid Nazuna to attend the dojo. Our father decided that Nazuna was unfit to learn dangerous techniques, as she was mentally weak.

But for Nazuna that was without doubt painful. Nazuna had loved going to our grandfather’s dojo. Moreover she rarely skipped on her club activities at school.

So I thought that Nazuna must have wanted to go back to the dojo.

However, much to my surprise, she slightly shook her head on my question and answered.

“…I won’t go back to grandpa’s dojo.”

“Eh? Why? In the future, you—”

“In the future I’ll be a kindergarten teacher!”

Quickly cutting into my words, Nazuna released a bright voice.

“And when I have become one, I’ll play together with the kids. I’m sure it’ll be fun. But my biggest dream is to marry someone like Dad or you…”

“No, someone like me aside for now, you better not marry someone like dad. What would you do if he cheated on you?”

“Mhm~ I think I would be very angry then. I would bite him a lot. But if he properly apologies, I might forgive him with a smile.”

…J- Just like my mother, she would forgive it with a smile on an apology, huh.

A bit surprised, I wanted to get back on topic, but Nazuna hastily went back into the living room to avoid that.

…Why was she running away?

Unable to comprehend it, I also went into the living room and tried to talk to her once more, but

“Brother, when are Dad and Kagari-chan coming back?”

Nazuna obviously tried to change the topic.

Apparently she didn’t want to talk further about it. Asking her against her will would be unreasonable. I was a bit curious, but it couldn’t be helped.

I gave up on it, while Nazuna, drowning in the memories about our father and Kagari— our pet cat, leaked a sigh with a distant look.

“…I hope Dad and Kagari-chan are coming back soon. I haven’t touched a cat for a long time and want to hold Kagari-chan tightly.”

“I can relate, Nazuna, but why don’t you make do with Machina’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s whilst?”

When I turned the topic to Machina, who sat besides Elni on the sofa, she blinked her eyes with an “Eh?”. But receiving Nazuna’s hopeful glance, she shrugged her shoulders a bit and replied.

“I don’t really mind if it’s Nazuna… But be gentle, okay?”

“Meow!”

Getting the okay from Machina, Nazuna spoiled buried her face in Machina’s voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s and released an admiring voice just like that.

“Uwah… Feels so good. You’re amazing, Machina-chan.”

“Th- Thanks… But… Uhn, Nazuna, don’t move too… ahh… much…”

When Machina rebuked with rough breathing, Elni also started to poke Machina’s voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s from the side with her fingertip, as she wanted to join in.

“Ohh, so soft, yet also so elastic. My finger gets pushed back.”

“Hey, Elni, Hyahn, don’t poke… Yahn, you too Nazuna, don’t fondle… Kyahn… Geez, you two, stop it already… Mm…”

Machina started to raise a rather bewitching voice. In regards to that, I turned my back to the three of them, pretended not to hear it and reminisced about Kagari just like Nazuna had.

“…I also want to touch a cat.”

I inadvertently spilled it, whereupon the nearby Luna clung onto my arm without any pretext, pressing her soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s against it.

“L- Luna? Ehm, what’s up so suddenly?”

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, please make do with b.r.e.a.s.t.s as well.”

While colouring her cheeks scarlet, Luna pinched my arm between her oversized b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Quite agitated by the unexpected happening, I was completely captured by Luna’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s and after I enjoyed that sensation to the fullest, I got away from Luna and left the living room. And on my way back to my own room, I suddenly remembered about the conversation with Nazuna earlier.

…Why didn’t Nazuna say that she wants to return to our grandfather’s dojo?

No matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t find an answer for it…

Returning to my room, I finished my review of and preparation for cla.s.ses and sat down on my bed, watching absent-minded the talisman in my hand.

Elni had said something about “It’s important to think in the talisman’s shoes” and “Even a talisman is happy when praised”.

…I wanted to use talismans as well as Elni, so I might as well try it out once.

Therefore, I half-convinced petted the talisman gently.

“Yeah, a nice touch. The sharp design is awesome as well.”

When I did something that looked stupid to a bystander, there suddenly was a knock on the door and I unmeant trembled my shoulder in a s.h.i.+ver.

…I, I wasn’t heard just now, was I?

Feeling my cheeks burning hot, I called a “Come in”, whereupon Luna came into the room with a smile.

—In that moment, the talisman in my hand glowed and a gust of wind blew.

That wind gently flipped up Luna’s skirt and my vision fell on brilliant thighs and wonderful, light-pink panties.

…E- Elni had said the truth. This talisman was quite tasteful. Truly a joyful happening.

While I reflexively was about to smile, Luna widened her eyes and slightly tilted her head.

“Uhm, what was that just now…”

“Wh- Who knows? That was quite the prankish wind. Haha, but I gotta say, the G.o.ddess really does perform miracles.”

Commenting so to fool her, I decided to change the topic quickly.

“So, what’s up?”

“Ah, yes, I wanted to talk to you for a bit…”

Approaching me with a smile, Luna suggested softly.

“But before that, should I give you a ma.s.sage, as you look rather tired, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san?”

“Eh? Gladly, but—D- Don’t do anything weird!”

“I will try my best.”

“No, you don’t need to. Just deny it, you natural erotic big sister!”

“I, I am not erotic!”

…Unfortunately it was called “natural”, because oneself wasn’t aware it.

I made a small, wry smile and apologized to Luna with “Sorry, Sorry”, then lay face down on the bed to take up her offer.

Upon that, Luna got onto the bed with a somewhat happy expression and then reached out her hands for my shoulders and back, starting to ma.s.sage them.

The ma.s.sage by Luna’s soft, slender and warm fingers was really pleasant…and before I noticed it, my eyelids had gradually gotten heavier.

Amidst that, Luna called out to me in a gentle tone.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, please listen to me like this. What I wanted to talk about is… eh, huh? s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, did you fall asleep?”

“Snore, snore. Mumble, mumble. I don’t need a dreaming girl.”

I pretended to sleep as a joke, whereupon Luna suddenly brought her face closer and with a single “Fuh”, she blew her hot breath into my ear.

Instantly, a s.h.i.+ver ran unmeant down my spine

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