Vol 10 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 02: Following in the Steps of her Inspiration

The scent of perfume sweetly brushed the tip of my nose. Well-formed beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s rich on elasticity pressed onto my back. When I s.h.i.+fted my gaze to the side, I could confirm brilliant chiselled facial features.

For some time now, Kaorun was faintly smiling while tightly hugging onto my back for some reason.

But, how long would this pleasant hug continue?

It was evening after school ended. Like we had agreed on yesterday over the phone, Hijiri and Kaorun offered the living room in their house for our meeting. To discuss the election campaign there, Machina and I went home once, then headed over to Hijiri’s house.

But whatever she might be thinking, Kaorun greeted us with her usual maid clothes.

At the entrance hall she had clung onto my back and I didn’t bother to retort, since it was too troublesome, but even after I sat down in the broad living room, she was still clinging to my back even now.

Two soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s. An aromatic and pleasant scent. The continuous sensation of her warm body made me run out of patience and I interjected.

“…I can’t focus on the meeting like this. How long are you going to stay like this? Or rather, what are you even doing?”

“Replenis.h.i.+ng my energy. Please do not mind me and start with the meeting.”

Don’t ask for the impossible while leaning that charming body onto me. Seeking help, I threw a glance at the cool beauty with dignified features, Hijiri, who gave off a gorgeous aura as always.

But contrary to Machina, who had a weary expression, Hijiri just smiled a bit.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, Kaoru-san is tired from various things. Please allow it for a bit longer.”

“Tired? Oh, she couldn’t sleep, since she was thinking of me.”

“Ehm, she’s not like me… wait, no. Remember, I talked you before that we hiring a new maid. So she’s kinda busy with these preparations lately. Besides, it seems she researched about the election until late at night yesterday.”

A new maid and researching the election, huh. Reminded me, the current head of the Gogyou Household, Sougo-san decided to hire a new maid so that Kaorun could devote herself to studying for the entrance exam after it turned out that she would be able to attend university together with Hijiri.

Hijiri said something quite concerning during her sentence, but I dared to ignore it by just saying “I see” while remembering the stuff about the new maid, whereupon Kaorun rested her chin on my shoulder and gave a joking warning.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, the new maid is a really adorable girl. I am sure she will come to live in this house in the near future, but please do not lay your hands on her.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“Sh- s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, you natural gigolo!”

When I replied joking, Kaorun playfully grinded her chin onto my shoulder.

…It felt a bit nice. After all, her round b.r.e.a.s.t.s innocently trembled stimulating on my back with every movement from her, transmitting an indescribable softness and elasticity.

But keeping my cool eagerly, I softly called out to Kaorun.

“I see that you worked hard for Machina’s sake. Even though you were tired from the stuff with the new maid, you looked into the election until late at night too, right?”

“Exactly. I really worked hard, so please give me a reward. For now, could you let me hear some sweet words? I expect some really romantic ones that soothe my tired heart.”

It was a similar request to the one on the phone yesterday, but I decided to respond suited.

“—I want to give up everything and caress.”

“Caress me? I understand.”

“After caressing you, I want to toss you aside.”

“Muh, how rude. The G.o.d of romance will not be pleased at this. I will present you a kiss now, so please accept it and give me a wonderful remark.”

“J- Just how desperate are you for sweet words— hey, wait! What’re you doing! Don’t try to kiss me for real!”

While I enjoyed exchanging jokes with Kaorun like that, Machina made a face like she wanted to say something, but Hijiri quietly started talking by giving me a side-glance.

“Machina-san, they’ll stop their jokes soon enough and then they’ll surely partic.i.p.ate seriously in the meeting after having played around. For now, let’s start the meeting with just the two of us at least.”

“…So you got used to it too, Hijiri.”

Machina showed a wry smile and nodded, then she started the meeting together with Hijiri with the table between them while ignoring us. Watching over these two, Kaorun dropped her voice faintly.

“They will not give us a retort.”

“Our disputes might already be an everyday occurrence.”

“It would be more precise to call it mannerism. A moderate stimulation is essential for our everyday life. s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, would you like to try a slightly radical and daring approach now to attain that stimulation?”

“…I believe a nonchalant life is the greatest treasure ever. Therefore I don’t call for radical and daring stimulations. Sorry, but I decline.”

“Please do not sound so callously. Just be yourself, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, and casually do as you please for a stimulation. Please make it dirty. How about we move to the bed?”

“But keep the lights off, okay? In the faint twilight, I want gaze at your heart alone— as if! Why do you look a bit happy? Don’t touch me with your dirty fingers! Ah, hey. I said no! Stop! Stop it, Kaoru-san!”

I inadvertently lapsed into respective speech and urged her to stop, but Kaorun didn’t stop at all. She happily stroked my cheek with her slender fingertips and while my protesting voice echoed ineffective, she brought her light red lips closer to me, lightly pressing them onto my neck.

…This wasn’t good. I had hid it with the collar of my clothes, but at this rate she would find the kiss mark that Luna gave me last night. While I hastily tried to get Kaorun off me, Hijiri and Machina gradually started to s.h.i.+ver their bodies to hold in something, as they were observing my situation.

“Oh my? A kiss mark on your neck…”

The moment Kaorun isolated said so, they surely lost their patience. Hijiri and Machina stood up with att.i.tude and approached Kaorun together, calling out to her.

“K- Kaoru-san! What’re you doing! Hurry up and get away from s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun! It’s not fair for you alone to do something so enviable!”

“Right! Just like Hijiri said, it’s not fair, Kaoru… wait, Hijiri? Aren’t these your true feelings? Should you be saying that?”

“Aw…”

“S- Sorry, I said something unnecessary. I didn’t thought you would turn bright red like that.”

“…It’s fine. I can’t make physical contact with s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun like Luna-san or Kaoru-san, so I’m really envious. Same goes for you, doesn’t it Machina?”

“Yes, I can’t kiss or hug s.h.i.+n.o.bu like my sister, can’t get petted on the head like Nazuna, nor can I take a bath together with— wait, I’m not like you! Don’t make me say weird things too, Hijiri! Just to tell you, that weren’t my true feelings!”

“Is, Is that so? For that it was rather specific though…”

“—Okay, Hijiri-chan, Machina, over there! This is not the time to be doing that! We have troubles!”

Calling them to a stop with a somewhat shrill voice, Kaorun pointed at my neck sharply.

“This kiss mark is not from me! It has already been on his neck before I could give him one! Just what is going on here, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama!”

“Yeah, it was forced onto me last night by a roguish lady. I wanted to casually play around for some stimulation, but fell for her innocent lips.”

The moment I cracked such a joke, Hijiri, Machina and Kaorun stiffened their expressions all at once.

“…So someone could force a kiss mark onto s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. How enviab— *cough* Using force isn’t good after all. You should have reprimanded her.”

“That’s for sure. I can’t stand coercive ways either.”

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, I am not really one to say as I tried to give you a kiss mark as well, but just who was it that forced it onto you?”

“The natural erotic big sister.”

When I honestly gave an instant reply, Hijiri and Kaorun turned around as soon as hearing my answer,

“I’m sorry, Kaoru-san, for suspecting you about the kiss mark…”

“No problem, Hijiri-chan. After all you believed me when I told a lie the other day. Well, that aside, it is about time that I partic.i.p.ate in the meeting as well.”

behaving as if nothing had happened, the two of them made their way to the table of the living room.

Feeling a bit doubtful, I tried calling out to Machina, who remained here.

“Hey, shouldn’t Luna get a little scolding?”

“That’s impossible. We‘re up against my sister. I can’t tell her off.”

Smiling a little bit sadly, Machina quickly went after Hijiri and Kaorun.

Even while I still considered it doubtful, I got to the table like the girls and this time we started the meeting seriously, whereupon Kaorun brought in a huge whiteboard into the living room from wherever and took lead of the meeting.

“Now then, the results of my research from during my breaks of work are that there are currently five people including Machina running for the position of the student council, though it has not officially been announced yet.”

“…Five even, huh. That’s much.”

“Because the organisation called student council at your high school seems to hold some level of power.”

As to respond to my surprised outburst, Kaorun wrote “4 Rival Candidates” on the whiteboard.

“Most likely there are some people amongst the candidates that think something on the lines of ‘Guehehe, I’ll gain power and have my way’ or ‘I’ll earn some back channels and enter a first-rate university’. I will not speak bad about it, but…”

Slowly stopping her words, Kaorun made her tone somewhat decisive.

“I hardly believe that Machina will loose to such opponents.”

“In other words, as long as they don’t pull any dirty tricks, Machina can get elected easily?”

“Not long ago that would have been the case. But as of now, the situation has changed.”

“…It changed?”

“What do you mean?”

When I and Machina tilted our heads all alike, Hijiri interjected reserved.

“Ehm, remember how I withdraw my candidacy for the student president not long ago? It might be due to that, but it seems the current Vice-president is now running for the president position. She’s experienced with the elections and is popular, so I don’t think she’ll let us win so easily.”

“…We can’t lump her together with the other candidates, huh.”

Speaking of, previously Hijiri was asked by the current student president to succeed the position. But due to her job as an exorcist and some troubles with me, the burden increased on her while she prepared for the election and she collapsed once at school.

Afterwards we reconciled and she prioritized her work and spending time with me, so in the end she withdrew from the election.

But, like Hijiri had said, her withdrawal might have consequences.

After all Hijiri was very popular. Her election would have been pretty much a given.

But now that she withdraw, the number of candidates increased, since they thought they have a chance now, and like Kaorun had said, it wasn’t all that unbelievable that amongst them were some people who were after the power or back channels of the president position.

Maybe the current Vice-President decided to run, because she couldn’t tolerate that?

While making such a guess, I crossed my arms and leaked a sigh at heart.

…Either way it would be a difficult election. Machina must have thought of the same. She showed a bit of worry in her expression and when I felt the atmosphere in the room get somewhat heavy, Kaorun lightly clapped her hands as to brighten up the current atmosphere.

“The Vice-president might prove to be a formidable opponent. But I do not have the slightest intention of losing. Let us come up with a plan together to win the election.”

On her words, we all looked at each other and nodded back firmly, whereupon Kaorun faintly smiled and threw a glance at Machina with a serious expression.

“I do believe you are aware of it already, Machina, but the election campaigns finally start in a few days. First we need to promote your face during the campaign.”

“…My face?”

“Indeed. There will be students who still not know about you. At the same time we promote you, we also have to make sure that you leave a good impression on the students.”

After softly responding to Machina, Kaorun wrote “Promotion” and “Improve Impression” on the whiteboard.

“For now, let us focus on these two points. It might be the basic of basics, but greet the students at the school gate every morning without fail. We should ask your cla.s.smate for a.s.sistance on this matter. s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, please accompany Machina at the school gate.”

“Sure. I’m weak with mornings, but leave it to me.”

“Incidentally, keep your cross-dress on at that time.”

“Okay, I have a trauma with cross-dressing, but leave— like h.e.l.l I would say that! Why are you suddenly joking around? Please, do it seriously.”

“It was not really meant as a joke. Excuse me for this, but your scary face would scare the students and turn our desired good impression into a bad one instead. To avoid that from happening, it is essential that you cross-dress.”

…Regrettable I thought that she was right.

But I really hated to cross-dress. When I inadvertently leaked a sigh, Hijiri backed me up, as she couldn’t endure seeing me like that.

“Kaoru-san, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun seems opposed to the cross-dressing, so I’ll go with Machina to the school gate instead. That should be fine, right?”

“…I cannot approve of that. Your withdrawal caused troubles for the members of the student council, who had prepared for the election so far, right? Machina’s rival is one of these members, the current Vice-President. It would not be favourable for you to come out in the open, Hijiri-chan.”

While Hijiri dropped her shoulders from the light rebuke, Kaorun looked at me while continuing her words with “It is wiser to have you work behind the scenes, Hijiri-chan”.

“Therefore, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, please cross-dress for Machina’s sake. Since Hijiri-chan will be working behind the scenes, I believe you are the most suitable to back up Machina.”

“Well, guess so.”

“Then please do us the favour and cross-dress. You are not the kind of cold-hearted person that would leave the brave, yet worried Machina all alone at the school gate, or am I wrong?”

Uncertain if she was serious or joking, Kaorun had an overly pa.s.sionate tone. In regards, Machina showed a wry smile and made a reserved follow-up for me like Hijiri.

“You don’t need to worry that much, Kaoru. It certainly would be rea.s.suring to have s.h.i.+n.o.bu with me, but another cla.s.smate will help too…”

“No, I’ll be with you.”

Slowly reaching out my hand, I patted Machina’s head.

“After all, I’m the most suited one to bring out your tricked&retort— I mean, bring out your charm. For that I’ll cross-dress or whatever else.”

“…The other day, they had a program about Freud’s words ‘A slip of tongue gives you a glimpse of a person’s true feelings’ on TV, you know? I think I just got a glimpse of your’s from the slip just now, s.h.i.+n.o.bu. Well, it made me a bit happy…”

So she was a bit happy. I was a bit surprised… When I was thinking so, Kaorun nodded satisfied, raised her slender waist and swiftly took Hijiri and Machina’s arm.

“Well then, we have covered the important points, so let us proceed with the creation of a poster next. I heard that you hang up the posters of the candidates on the school’s black board. I have already prepared the camera and outfit, so let us take a picture for the poster at once.”

“Kaoru-san, I’m impressed you knew about that. But what’s with this hand?”

When Hijiri dropped her gaze on her held arm, Kaorun replied without hesitation.

“I concluded that it would be too embarra.s.sing for Machina alone. So please get changed as well on this occasion, Hijiri-chan. It a chance to seduce s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”

“…Seduce s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun? I, I wonder if I can pull it off.”

“Of course you can. I am sure s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama will be pleased. Please try your hardest for both Machina and s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll.”

Hijiri agreed relatively easily. On the other hand, Machina, held by Kaorun just like Hijiri, handed out a stop to Kaorun hastily.

“W- Wait, Hijiri! Don’t fall for Kaoru’s sweet talk! We’re talking about Kaoru here, so she has prepared weird outfits without doubt! Besides, why even get changed? Just take a photo with the school uniform— wait, don’t pull, Kaoru! Stop it, let go!”

Machina protested by swaying her legs and arms to and fro, but it was fruitless and she disappeared from the living room together with Hijiri by being dragged by Kaorun.

But well, taking a breather was important too. Resting my head with a wry smile, I decided to wait for them to return while resting my chin in my hand on the table…

Then a few minutes went by and because I stayed up late yesterday, I unconsciously was about to doze off, whereupon the door of the living room opened quietly and the girls finally returned.

But Kaorun, who had a single lens reflex camera hanging around her neck, aside, the moment my eyes fell onto Hijiri and Machina’s outfits, all my sleepiness was blown away at once and I inadvertently widened my eyes greatly.

…Amazing. Their outfits were rather attractive. Their costumes were quite different from each other, but first off, Hijiri’s was generally speaking a shrine maiden with a short skirt?

A snow-white short-sleeved Kimono with a pure sense of chast.i.ty. Arranged with a mini-skirt instead of the traditional red Hakama. The length of that skirt was incredible short and exposed Hijiri’s beautiful thighs openly, bewitchingly emphasising her healthy and beautiful legs.

I could for fall it at any time. Hijiri’s own charm surely played a great role for it. The traditional j.a.panese trimness and an elegant charm were perfectly combined.

But in no way inferior to Hijiri, Machina’s outfit had quite the impact as well.

Normally she was already showing off a Queen-like radiance anyway, yet she now wore a suggestive bondage fas.h.i.+on, which improved her elegant seductiveness.

A bondage wear that gave off a bewitching black brilliance.

That wear seductively highlighted Machina’s bodyline, which possessed outstanding proportions. Her voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s and slender waist. Her firm thighs that peeked out of her short pants. Her elegant legs that were clad in stockings with a garter belt. All of them emitted a s.e.x appeal that fascinated you sweetly.

Before I noticed it, I had been at a loss for words from being fascinated by Hijiri and Machina, but just how did Kaorun get the two of them to wear these daring outfits?

Suddenly returning to my senses, I tilted my head in doubt.

…Reminded me, they took quite the time to get changed, but did she persuade the two during that time? Kaorun, with still the camera around her neck, wiped her forehead like she wanted to say ‘Whew, I did it’, whereas on the other hand Hijiri and Machina each formed their red cheeks into a bright smile.

“Good, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun really seems to like it…”

“He’s trying to hide it, but you can see he’s grinning. Kaoru was really right.”

They whispered that to each other. Amidst that, Kaorun softly pulled out a video camera out of her pocket and for some reason started to film, holding the camera into my direction.

“Hey, Kaorun. You don’t need to film me. Stop it.”

Even while saying so, I posed with a wink, whereupon Kaorun opened her mouth with a good mood.

“This wild man with the fearless features is Nanjou s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama. A great man, who made Hijiri-chan his lover. He likes strolls on the beach, sunsets and s.e.xy women. Please call me if you would like to know his three sizes. And lastly, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, please a word for all your fans in the nation.”

“I’ll gently embrace any fan of mine, regardless of gender. If you have troubles, come to me anytime. I’m like a convenience store, available twenty-four hours a day without rest.”

“Okay, that was the lame s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama that does not know when to stop s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around. But even this mischievous side of him is cute.”

While cracking an usual joke, Kaorun slowly s.h.i.+fted the camera towards Machina.

“Next we have the red-haired Queen, who looks fantastic in bondage fas.h.i.+on: Machina Liebelei Orangelo. Her special traits are Tsundere and her combination of easily getting tricked only to retort afterwards. A word from you as well on this occasion, Machina. If possible, please something that gives off the feeling of stepping onto a man’s heart with pin heels.”

“—Listen up, my cute servants. Until I say otherwise, keep your dirty mouths shut. Got it? If anyone besides me speaks, I won’t show any mercy… wait, what are you making me do! Besides, who are you calling a Qween!”

…Machina bit her tongue.

Instantly, the red-haired Queen blushed up to her ears. Her outfit and body were s.e.xy, but looking at Machina made me smile naturally after all. After Kaorun smiled like I did, she moved the camera towards Hijiri and filmed a perfect low-angle.

“Now then, this dignified black-haired cool beauty is my own vaunted little sister, Gogyou Hijiri-chan. Currently you can see a part of her panties, but white sure is fantastic. As expected of Hijiri-chan. Please a word from you too.”

“Aw, it’s embarra.s.sing, so stop it… Don’t look… No, don’t film me…”

Without her usual dignified brilliance, Hijiri trembled her voice with shame.

Somehow my heartbeat became strangely rapid. Hijiri grabbed the hem of her skirt tightly with both her hands and bashfully fidgeted her knees against each other. Nothing that, Kaorun suddenly approached me and held the camera out to me.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, I will now do the photo-shooting like initially planned. I entrust the video camera to you. Please film it neatly for a keepsake.”

“I’ll make the actor s.h.i.+ne.”

Nodding large-hearted, I directed the camera at Kaorun without delay.

“Okay, this beautiful woman with the sharp features and maid clothes is Kaorun aka Gogyou Kaorun. She’s a surprisingly shy older sister that loves jokes. On this occasion, a word from you, Kaorun.”

When I let myself get carried away with the joke, Kaorun made a blown kiss “Mm… *kiss*“ along with a bewitching pose.

“How was it? Did it excite you?”

“…I think whatever I’ll say will only hurt you. And I don’t want to hurt you.”

“An angelic smile of a devil!?”

To be honest it was quite exciting, but I kept quiet about it, since it was embarra.s.sing.

Upon that, Kaorun quickly started to take pictures of Hijiri and Machina with her single lens reflex camera around her neck, as she didn’t seem to mind it, even though she looked slightly sour.

“Well then, you two, this might be a bit sudden, but please take off all your clothes and get nak… I can tell by your expressions. You are against it. Then instead down to the underwear…. No good either, huh. I understand. Well then, could you at least strike a s.e.xy pose?”

…I had read this negotiation method in some book before.

Highball technique, I believe? First you start with an unreasonable offer and when the other party starts to ponder, you immediately give a compromise, making the other party agree on the true offer. It was a trick to casually raise the other party’s anchor.

And as they fell for that, both Hijiri and Machina readily took the demanded poses like saying “If it’s just that”, whereas Kaorun on the other hand set up her digital camera.

“You are both very charming, Hijiri-chan, Machina. So fantastic. Really cute.”

Praising them like that, she used another negotiation method and when the two of them showed hesitation, Kaorun brought up my name with “You two, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama is enjoying it too” or “s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama is fascinated by you too” and made them take daring poses.

During that, their abundant b.r.e.a.s.t.s were prominent on the leopardess pose generally used for gravure idols and I could look into their deep cleavages. Also, on the pose with her legs spreads their beautiful legs glittered bewitching and I was fascinated by their smooth and long legs.

Of all things, they next got on all fours, then lightly stuck out their ample bottoms into my directions while I got a fleeting and fascinating glance on the white panties under Hijiri’s short skirt and pink panties under Machina’s short pants.

…Too dazzling for my eyes. While I was agitated, Kaorun softly s.h.i.+fted her gaze towards me.

“So, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, how do you currently feel?”

“Like I’m in heaven. Though I think it’ll change into h.e.l.l soon…”

“Rest a.s.sured, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama. I will accompany you to h.e.l.l.”

…In other words, she had no intentions to stop yet?

As it might be expected I tried to stop her, but before I could, Kaorun called out to the two girls.

“Okay, please look over here now. Listen, it is about time you take off your skirts and panties… No, I am merely joking. Well then, please raise up your bottoms a bit more. Now please shake them lightly, like you were going to seduce s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”

When Kaorun urged them like that, Hijiri and Machina looked at each other and were a bit hesitant, but

“Hijiri-chan, Machina. s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama is eagerly awaiting. He is completely grinning on a rare occasion, you know? Please do your best for him.”

tempted by the perverted maid, both flushed their cheeks after a short hesitation and slowly shook their waists sinuous.

Their beautiful bottoms trembled bewitching. Their ample hips followed Kaorun’s instruction and started to move up and down as to seduce me. Next their movement changed to left and right, lastly drawing circles like scrubbing something.

That alone was already plenty stimulating, yet every time they moved, the short skirt and short pants gradually rolled up nevertheless, perfectly showing Hijiri’s white and Machina’s pink panties. Their round b.u.t.tocks were in plain view now.

In this situation, the two of them flushed their cheeks even more and continued to move their waists, whereupon their snow-white bottoms rocked dirty and sweetly bounced to show off their outstanding springiness.

Ehm, personally this was like heaven to me, but… should they really be doing that for a photo-shooting? When I got a late guilty consciousness, Kaorun continued the shooting, ignorant of my feelings. Furthermore, she took out a crib sheet from her pocket and showed it to Hijiri.

“Hijiri-chan, please read this sentence now along with some sweet moaning.”

Hearing that request, Hijiri damped her eyes from shame and timidly opened her mouth.

“—P, Please make me your pet.”

What an incredible impact. When I felt even my own cheeks inadvertently getting hot, Kaorun showed Machina a crib sheet too.

“This sentence is for you, Machina.”

“—Tonight, do it from behind <3 like=””>

As she returned to her senses as expected, Machina faintly raised her voice at the same time she made her tricked&retort combo.

“Give it a rest already with making us do such things, Kaoru! Sure, I was happy getting praised. And since s.h.i.+n.o.bu liked it too, I kinda got into it, but now that I think about it, there’s no way we can use these for the election poster! In the first place, why are you still filming, s.h.i.+n.o.bu!”

“S- Sorry. You two were just so charming, that I unconsciously…”

“Eh? Charming? Is that so--- wait, no! You’re filming again! You should stop Kaoru now, s.h.i.+n.o.bu! Hijiri, say something too!”

“…As long it makes s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun happy, I’m fine with it. I can’t seem to tell him off.”

“J- Just how devoting can you get…”

Hijiri made a small troubled smile. Machina made a small sigh. As for Kaorun,

“If we make good use of the data in this digital camera and video camera, we might win the election rather easily.”

Saying so isolated, she took the video camera from me, whereupon Hijiri and Machina hastily raised fl.u.s.tered voices.

“K- Kaoru-san! You can’t! I can’t show something that embarra.s.sing to anyone besides s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun! Please stop!”

“Right! What’s wrong with your head! Hand over that digital and video camera at once! I’ll erase all the data from so far!”

“P- Please, anything but erasing the data! It makes such a good keepsake!”

Along with her words, Kaorun swiftly turned her back to them and quickly escaped the living room. In regards, Hijiri and Machina chased after her while calling her to stop, leaving me all alone in the living room again.

…Would we restart the meeting when they got back?

It was about time we took this a bit more serious. We certainly overdid it a bit.

For now I started to engage in some self-criticism alone in the living room, whereupon suddenly quiet footsteps sounded and with the door opening, a man with firm features showed up.

He was Hijiri’s father, Gogyou Sougo-san.

Did he come home just now? Correcting my posture, I called out to him with “Thanks for having me over”, whereupon Sougo-san gave me a small nod back, then showed a sullen expression for some reason.

“Nanjou-kun, I saw Hijiri and the others in the hallway earlier, but why were they dressed like that?”

“…Juvenility, I guess. Please overlook it.”

“Mhm, that’s youth for you. Still, these clothes belong to my wi--- No, never mind.”

How could I not mind? But I didn’t mention it out of consideration, whereupon Sougo-san softened his sharp look and changed the topic.

“Reminds me, Elni is living at your house, right? How’s she doing? Still at home now?”

“I think she’s lying under the heated table together with my sister…”

The other day Elni had fawn on my mother with “Please”, so earlier than usual the heated table was set up in our living room.

But Sougo-san should be avoiding Elni. So it was surprising that he brought up Elni by himself. I t.i.tled my head doubtfully.

“Where did that come from? It’s rare for you to talk about Elni.”

“Well, you know, it has gotten colder lately. I just remember that Elni doesn’t like the cold. I’m going to excuse myself now, but when you come over the next time, bring Elni along if possible. I would like to have dinner with her once in a while.”

“…Dinner with Elni?”

“Elni is… my precious friend, you know.”

That was a real surprise. That Sougo-san thought of Elni like that…

Sougo-san smiled faintly. But his tone was somewhat depressed and his eyes were filled with a faint sadness for some reason. Also, as he still was thinking of Elni, he showed a really kind, but somewhat sad smile when he left.

That complex expression left a strangely lasting impression in my chest…

Then I spent my time absent-minded for a while, whereupon the girls finally returned to the living room.

But as the photo shooting data had regretfully been erased, Kaorun was crying sobbing, whereas Hijiri and Machina had changed back into their original clothes.