Vol 10 Chapter 2 (2/2)

In time then, Kaorun seemed to have overcome her depression and this time started a serious photo shooting. Once that was over, we again discussed things regarding the election and after a fruitful time, Machina and I bid our farewell to Hijiri and Kaorun with leaving the Gogyou mansion.

By the way, on that occasion Kaorun whispered “Trust be told, I managed to copy the data from just the video camera onto a memory card before it got erased, protecting it with my life. I will make a copy and present it to you next time, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama” near my ear, but that aside for now.

Under the setting sun, Machina and I made our way home side by side.

Midway, we made a little detour and casually went to the shopping district, whereupon we suddenly spotted a street vendor. There were all kinds of hats lined up and Machina stopped to look at them as she was interested.

…Hee, there was even a cat-ear hat.

Suddenly my vision had fallen onto a cute hat that was shaped like cat-ears. Together with Machina I watched the hats for a while, but I just couldn’t suppress my prankish nature, so I took the cat-ear hat and put it onto her head.

“…Looks better than I thought. Really cute. Sorry to interrupt your fun, Machina, but could you mimic Nazuna for a bit?”

“Meow! I love you, Broth--- wait, where did that come from? Don’t make me do weird things! Besides, this hat is, well… a bit childish, wouldn’t you say? Sorry, but I don’t think it suits me.”

“---I’ll buy this one.”

“Wh- Why are you buying it without hesitation!?”

While I purchased the cat-ear hat on the spot, Machina timidly pulled on the sleeve of my clothes.

“Could it be, you’re giving this hat to Nazuna as a present?”

“No, it’s a present for you.”

After removing the price tag of the hat, I now softly made Machina wear it.

“Yeah, cute. If you like it, take it. But if you don’t want it, I can give it to Nazuna.”

“…I’ll take it.”

Holding down the hat with both her hands to signalise that didn’t want to part with it,

“Thanks, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”

Machina lightly flushed her smooth cheeks and showed a bright smile.

That smile was so much cuter than the hat, gradually warming up my chest.

As such even I got happy, but my great deal of embarra.s.sment encouraged me to avert my eyes from her. Then we resumed our way home, but the by-pa.s.sing people smiled upon seeing Machina and as she herself noticed that too, she gradually turned redder.

But she never took off the hat, so I called out to her with a wry smile.

“Ehm, you can take it off if it’s too embarra.s.sing, you know?”

“It sure is embarra.s.sing… but you bought it for me and said it was cute, so I don’t want to take it off.”

…I would have never guessed it would make her so happy. In that case, I probably should have bought a more decent one. On the way home under the night sky where stars sparkled here and there, I lightly scratched my head while Machina reached out for the hat on her head and suddenly said isolated.

“In the past, my mother gave me a present like you did just now, s.h.i.+n.o.bu. Back then it were clothes instead of a hat, but I considered them childish and cruelly said ’Don’t want them’, even though it was a special present.”

As she remembered said time, her tone filled faintly with regret.

“My mother smiled a bit sadly, which kinda hurt me, but I couldn’t say that I wanted them at this point, so I thought to properly accept them later on. But in the end… I didn’t get the present.”

“Because you couldn’t be honest?”

When I interjected softly, Machina slowly shook her head to the side and even while smiling a bit, her voice was somewhat faltering.

“Right afterwards… my mother pa.s.sed away. The house, the clothes, it all burned down and left nothing behind. It was the last present of my mother, yet I couldn’t apologize, nor could I thank her for it… I was really stupid.”

Still smiling forcefully, she caressing touched the hat on her head.

Surely she regretted it even now.

Machina’s mother was killed by humans. She pa.s.sed away due to the unreasonable impression that those who stay with devils are devils themselves… and left the Old Man Bram and Machina alone.

I couldn’t fathom just how heart-breaking that was. I simply bit down on my lips and after a short pause, I quietly opened my mouth.

“Hey, how was your mother like?”

“…A really fascinating person.”

Proudly throwing out her chest,

“As a kid, when I still couldn’t control my devil powers well, I hurt my mother by mistake. But even though she saw this inhuman power and got hurt, my mother said ‘It’s alright’ and embraced me like always.”

Softly narrowing her amber-coloured eyes,

“It didn’t bother her at all that I had devil blood in me. My mother was as kind as my sister, as smart as Kaoru, as funny as Elni and before she pa.s.sed away, she was as adored by everyone as Hijiri.”

Machina slowly spun her words affectionately.

“Ever since I was small, I wanted to be like my mother. That desire grew even stronger after I came here to the human world. It’s also the reason I’m interested in the student council.”

s.h.i.+fting her yearning gaze to the starry sky, she filled her tone with a warm pa.s.sion.

“I believe that I can get closer to my mother when I become the student president and get along with a lot of people, doing something for them. That I can live as a human when I become so kind that people around me boast about it.”

Stopping her words while still looking up to the starry sky, Machina suddenly dropped her voice.

“But, the election seems more difficult than I thought.”

“…You’re insecure?”

“You heard what Hijiri said, right? The current Vice-President is running too. She seems really popular, so it’s way more likely that she’ll get elected instead of a no-name like me.”

While making a weak sigh, she cast down her eyes a bit.

“Hijiri’s election would have been a given if she had run for it. If somehow my sister or Elni could run for it, they probably would become the student president too. But it’s no good for me.

I can’t be like them at all.”

“You don’t have to be… like them.”

Slowly and quietly,

“Sure, they may have qualities you don’t have. But you also have qualities they don’t have.”

I naturally let my feelings flow out of my mouth.

“You were called a ‘Failure’ like myself. But unlike me, you can’t hurt anyone, are really strong and kind. Moreover, you have a lot of cute sides.”

That was why I was no match for Machina.

“Precisely because you’re like that, we all want to help you. For your sake, I’ll even cross-dress. I’ll do anything. Therefore…”

Reaching out my hand straightforward without hesitation,

“Let’s work hard together from now on.”

I petted her head as gentle as possible, whereupon Machina spread her arms a bit

“…You’re so caring, s.h.i.+n.o.bu. Just like my sister.”

and maybe tried to hug onto me.

But she slowly lowered her spread arms and spilled quiet words.

“It’s so mysterious. Normally you screw around, only tell jokes, tease me or make me do weird things and sometimes do s.e.xual hara.s.sment, yet when you pet my head like this, I forget about all that and think about wanting to stay with you forever…”

“Want a hug then?”

“Fufu, says Mr. Shy. It’s one of your usual jokes, right?”

Regretfully getting away from my hand, Machina smiled fleeting with “Stupid s.h.i.+n.o.bu”.

But her smile illuminated by the starlight was somehow fickle and for some reason my chest started to hurt, getting the sudden impulse of wanting to embrace her.

Amidst that, Machina showed a bit of hesitation, then grabbed my hand reserved.

A small and soft palm. The warmth transferred over from it slowly spread over my whole body while my heart gradually filled with pa.s.sion. My feelings became stronger.

—I want to protect her forever.

Even as a hybrid devil, Machina was chasing after her mother’s vestige even now and wished to live as a human in the very human world that took her mother away from her.

—I want to be with her forever.

Not all that honest with a weak side like Old Man Bram had said, but incredible cute and kind, she was my family.

—If it was for her sake, I could do anything.

Returning the squeeze on her small palm, I moved my gaze a bit, whereupon the moon, which was clearly visible now, gently illuminated Machina’s profile…

Why was a winter’s morning so cold?

Early morning on the first day of the election campaign period. Like we had agreed on in the meeting the other day, I would cross-dress and stand in front of the school gate together with Machina from today on, greeting the incoming students. We technically also arranged the help from our cla.s.smates, but as I woke up earlier than usual, I was not only quite sleepy, but cold too.

If I were to give in to the temptation of my sleepiness here, it would make me the kind of useless guy that lets his cla.s.smate work for the election campaign while enjoying another nap in the warm bed himself.

…I didn’t want to become that kind of guy.

Therefore I bid a cool farewell to my bed and dressed myself snugly next, leaving my room elegant.

But, I was actually d.a.m.n sleepy. It was d.a.m.n early and I somehow managed to get up by myself without my cell phone alarm. But having Luna wake me up in the morning was still the best.

Due to having lost my morning’s pleasure, I couldn’t shake off my sleepiness and moved on while stifling a yawn, whereupon I suddenly run into Elni in the hallway.

Elni probably only just got up herself too. Her usual twintails-tied hair was hanging down straight and she still wore her nightcap on her head. Seemingly she was more cold than I, as she lightly s.h.i.+vered her delicate body.

“Morning, Elni. So cold again today. I see you’re shaking a bit, are you okay?”

“…I’m done for. I hate the cold. The G.o.ddess stands no chance against rain, wind, snow, summer heat or s.h.i.+n.o.bu’s coolness.”

“Rather frail for a G.o.ddess. You don’t stand a chance against anything.”

“—But I stand a chance against life! And against myself! Anyway, to escape this cold, I’ll go on a trip to warm place!”

“Hey, don’t spout cool phrases while trying to sleep in my arms. Go make a short trip for the heated table in the living room.”

I made a small retort like that, but Elni’s body was really warm, her pleasant fragrance tickled my nasal cavities and I got excited by a sweet and soft sensation, but I kept quiet about that to Elni.

Cladding myself in composure, I moved on again, then softly pulled her off from my body, which she was clinging to, in front of the living room.

Upon that, Elni headed straight for the heated table in the living room. While watching that with a side-glance, I went to the dining kitchen, where surprisingly everyone was already present.

…They all wake up rather early.

My mother and Machina sat at the table with their heads together, reading the morning newspaper, whereas Luna prepared breakfast with an adorable ap.r.o.n in the kitchen. Nazuna was wiping her head with a towel, as she had taken a shower, and came running over with a smile as soon as she noticed me.

“Morning, Brother! Looks like you got up on your own today.”

“Yeah, shamefully it was a tough fight. Morning, Nazuna. You’re up early today too.”

“Yeah! Because I’m training every morning! The Nazucat Knuckle-arrow lit up my fire this morning too!”

“Even your proud Knuckle-arrow will be defeated by this cold. Even now, I’m about to freeze up. Do something about it, Nazuna.”

Replying with an energetic “Meow!”, Nazuna hugged onto me while still smiling. Apparently she was going to warm me up with her own body temperature.

“Ohh, so warm. No need for heaters this winter then.”

When I smiled a bit and petted her head, Nazuna rubbed her small body against mine like a cat with “Meow, meow”.

In the corner of my vision, Machina was looking at me kind of envious and my mother, noticing that, showed a roguish smile, calling out to her.

“Hey Machina-chan, I don’t think Nazuna alone can relieve s.h.i.+n.o.bu’s cold. He said he’s freezing up, remember? So why don’t you hug onto him as well?”

“W- Well, since the situation calls for it— wait, no! Why are even you teasing me, Tomoe-san! Nazuna can handle it on her own.”

“…And your real thoughts?”

“I want to get my head petted like Nazuna after all… wait, I said don’t tease me! Why are you and s.h.i.+n.o.bu so good at sweet talking? Is it in the genes?”

“Ehm, I think you’re just easily falling for it. If anything, I would say s.h.i.+n.o.bu got his frivolous mouth and natural gigolo ability from my husband.”

While speaking out a fact that sadly couldn’t be denied, my mother showed a wry smile and asked further.

“Still, why are you so shy with everyone, Machina-chan? Just cling to s.h.i.+n.o.bu once in a while when you want to play or attention. You can hug or kiss him like Luna-chan does, you know?”

“…I would feel bad for my sister.”

Knitting her eyebrows a bit, Machina mumbled with a small voice. On the other hand, I couldn’t hear her words well and exchanged a look with Nazuna, whereas Luna approached me with a smile and holding a coffee cup with both her hands.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, please have this to wake you up. How many sugar cubes do you want?”

“I’m fine with black. I can’t get enough of the flavour and bitterness.”

“So mature, Brother!”

Regardless of my slightly forced behaviour, Nazuna looked at me with sparkling eyes, then s.h.i.+fted her gaze curiously to the coffee.

“Hey Brother, can have a sip?”

“…Nazucat, can you appreciate the bitterness?”

“I, I can! My dream is to become an enchantress like Kaoru-san! I’ll show you that I like black coffee!”

Well, I knew that her dream was to become an enchantress, but why did add “like the perverted Maid” in front of it? Since when had she added that unnecessary part?

I knew I was being rather rude to Kaorun, but I only felt a bit guilty, whereupon Nazuna took a sip from the coffee without time for me to stop her.

“M- Meow~! I can’t drink this after all!”

“…It’s a long road to being an enchantress.”

Nazuna raised pitiable scream. I took the coffee cup from Nazuna with a wry smile and enjoyed the rising flavour lordly, then I took a sip like Nazuna to enjoy the bitter taste reserved for adults.

“…Let’s give it to Mom.”

“Y- You’re such a kid, Brother!”

I couldn’t really appreciate the bitterness of the coffee and Nazuna made a sudden cutting remark astonished.

“Don’t make a bitter face and drink it yourself. You can’t get enough of it, right?”

“D- Do not worry, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san. I will bring you some sugar right away.”

My mother’s merciless retort and Luna’s warm kindness kind of hurt me…

After finis.h.i.+ng breakfast and getting ready for school, Machina and I hurried on our way to school with white breaths while everyone else sent us off with a “Give it your all”.

By the way, even though we were going earlier than usual, Nazuna still came with us and told us about the student council election that ended recently at her middle school to give at least a bit of reference.

“…So at the support speech, Mii-chan and I showed the magic tricks we learned from Elni-chan and everyone liked it. I don’t know if it’s thanks to that, but my friend Arisugawa-san, who run for the president position, was elected.”

“You guys really did the magic tricks…”

“We practiced a lot after all. Arisugawa-san was really happy too. She made her usual loud laughter with ‘Ohoho~! Finally my time has come! Ohoho~!’, but afterwards… she cried.”

“Sh- She must have been really happy.”

While I gave agreeable responses like that, Nazuna tried her best at remembering about the election and gave us all kinds of advices, but sadly hardly any of that was really helpful. Still, Machina listened to her and narrowed her eyes gentle.

“Thank you, Nazuna. That’s helpful.”

At the usual crossroad. Machina tightly hugged Nazuna on the parting, then softly took my hand, walking on just like that.

But it was certainly rare for Machina to do something like that.

The way to school together with Nazuna and me. Machina’s actions gave off the feeling that she really wanted to treasure that time, which made me dubious. But I didn’t interject in particular and headed to school together with Machina. When I set foot into the cla.s.sroom, the greater half of the girls in cla.s.s had a joyful smile as soon as they noticed me.

“Ah, Nanjou-kun and Orangelo-san are here!” “It’s time for cross-dress!” “We’ll make the greatest cross-dress for Orangelo-san’s sake!” Leave it to us, Orangelo-san. Also… Katou-kun, I can understand that you want to record all this with your digital camera, but we aren’t having a photo shooting here today. Concentrate on the election.”

With that, the girls dragged me to the changing room like on an arrest, putting me into cross-dress in no time.

…I’ll keep it a secret that the girls looked like piranhas for a moment.

But even though I was prepared for it, cross-dressing was indeed painful. For a while now I was feeling chilly as I wore a skirt now. Occasionally I had heard that a lot of women were sensitive to the cold, but it was impressive how they could keep wearing a skirt in this cold.

After I left the changing room with that impression, I glanced at the girl walking next to me.

Big eyes and a smooth bridge of nose. Smooth white skin and the rumoured F-Cup sized huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

The girl with the innocent charm was my cla.s.smate and childhood friend, Minami Ouka.

She was going to help with the early morning election campaign too. While I got cross-dressed, Machina likely headed to the front gate together with our cla.s.smate, the Pervert and started her campaign by now. I quickly should join her.

Thinking so, I headed for the school gate, whereas Minami suddenly pulled out dog-ears from her pocket and gave me a curious look.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan, you’re really pretty today.”

“I heard that plenty already. Like this, I can get any discounts on Lady’s day. It has already come down to this, so I’ll just bewitch boys and girls alike for Machina’s sake.”

“Th- Then how about putting on these dog-ears?”

“…It would make me too popular, so better not.”

While gently rejecting the dog-ears, I moved to the school gate with Minami, who lightly dropped her shoulders, but for some reason Machina knitted her eyebrows troubled nearby by and the Pervert next to her also made a wry smile.

By the way, the Pervert with the handsome features was my best friend, Asada Kouta, whose essential parts were mainly made up of siscon and lewdness.

Well, that aside. When I doubtfully followed Machina and Asada’s look, there were already unknown students at the school gate and immediately understanding the situation, I frowned a bit.

“… I see. We all had the same idea, huh.”

“No. That’s not it, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan.”

Even though her spot for the greeting had been taken, for some reason Minami shook her head and replied.

“Not all of us had the same idea. My idea was— how I can cling to you with the cold as an excuse or how I can put dog-ears onto you!”

“…You’re erotic as always.”

“I, I’m not erotic! I was partly joking!”

After denying it with red cheeks, Minami corrected her tone and continued.

“Anyway, what do we do now? It would be for us to cut into their position, right? For now, I’ll go back to the shoe lockers. It should still be free there…”

“Okay, please secure the place for us. Thanks, Minami. You’re erotic and cute again today.”

“I, I’m happy for the cute part, but you could you leave out the erotic?”

While answering reserved, Minami went back on the way we came on and after watching her leave, I headed in front of the school gate and softly rested my palm on Machina’s head.

“Sadly it looks like the gate won’t work. Let’s give up on it for today. Minami just went to secure the shoe lockers for us. After we spied on our opponents a bit, let’s join Minami.”

“Yes, I’ll have to thank Minami later on. And I heard it from Asada just now. See the girl with the ponytail in the group? She’s the current Vice-President.”

“Hee, so that’s her. She certainly has an aura.”

When I followed Machina’s look, I could see a girl with beautiful hair tied up in a ponytail.

Her almond eyes full of confidence were impressive. She was rather brilliant, albeit not as much as Hijiri, and you could tell with one glance that she was the leader of the group. For a short while Machina and I silently watched them, whereupon the still present Asada gave an explanation with a sullen face.

“To stay on the topic, her name is Himuro Kana. Her three sizes are 87-58-84, E-Cup. She’s popular with the students, though not as much as Gogyou-san, and well trusted amongst the teachers too. But I don’t really like her. It’s kind of unpleasant.”

“Unpleasant? What’s up with you, Asada? Saw your face in a mirror?”

“Yeah, seeing my ugly self in the mirror displeased me greatly— as if! The heck you’re talking about, Nanjou! Besides that’s rude, when my face is essential handsome!”

“…I would say G.o.d made an essential mistake when he gave you that face.”

While giving such a retort, I tried to enjoy our usual slightly harsh communication, but on a rare occasion, Asada didn’t went along with my joke and disgustingly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes with “Listen to me seriously!”.

“I can’t deal with Himuro. She’s scary. You know, actually, she… is always watching me with lewd eyes.”

“To the infirmary, at once. And don’t come back. Your paranoia is a serious case.”

“No! It’s the truth! She’s really looking at me with weird eyes! She must be an even greater pervert than me!”

“If you don’t give it a rest, you’ll be sued for defamation. Besides, Himuro-san was it? What part of her looks like a pervert? At first glance, she looks like a nice girl.”

I commented so a bit wearily, but Asada furiously shook his head.

“The world has people called closet pervert, you know? She’s that kind of pervert. Without doubt, she’s a pervert. And a hardcore one at that. Even I’m afraid of her.”

“So what? Let’s say she is a pervert, then our school has a pervert as a Vice-President? And that pervert is even running for the president position. Are you implying she’s running a perverted campaign for perverts from perverts?”

“…It’s annoying how you keep using pervert, pervert more than I. What’s with that distrusting look! Believe me already, you beautiful b.i.t.c.h! I said Himuro is a pervert! I’ll put my life, which is even more important than earth itself, on the line for it!”

“Not convincing, when it’s such a cheap life. Besides, what you mean with beautiful b.i.t.c.h? Are you picking a fight, stupid Siscon?”

“A siscon is a characteristic! What’s wrong with loving my older sister? To begin with, you’re a siscon too for loving your little sister!”

While quarrelling half-jokingly, I had a bad communication with Asada, whereupon Machina hastily got between us and mediated right away.

“H- Hey, stop it, you two. It’s rude to say ‘Pervert, Pevert’ with a loud voice. Himuro has been looking this way for a while now, you know? She’s surely angry.”

Just like Machina had said, the current Vice-President Himuro-san was looking our way. Or to be more precise, she shot a somewhat pa.s.sionate gaze at Asada. That said, she didn’t really look angry and approached us with a smile.

Instantly Asada turned pale and retreated without hesitation. Seeing that, Himuro-san made a small sigh, then s.h.i.+fted her gaze towards Machina and me.

“I believe you are Nanjou-kun and Orangelo-san?”

“Yeah, that’s right. You know us?”

“Of course. You are famous at school.”

“As the handsome gentleman and the beautiful Tsundere?”

“…No, as the shy cross-dressing idol and the red-haired queen.”

Instantly, both Machina and I dropped her our shoulders and hung our heads.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I apologize if I have offended you.”

“No, it’s alright. Rather, did we offend you? Having the Pervert and me call you a ‘Pervert’ must have been annoying, right? I’m really sorry about that.”

“Fufu, I don’t mind, so don’t apologize. I didn’t come to complain. I just wanted to greet you. Maybe you heard from Asada-kun already? I’m Himuro Kana, Orangelo-san’s election rival.”

With her almond eyes still full of confidence, she looked straight at Machina with these eyes.

“We’ll be opponents in the election, but let us fight fair and square.”

Himuro-san extended her slender hand for a handshake. In regards, Machina timidly took her hand, as she was somewhat overwhelmed by her refined behaviour and personality.

“B- Best of luck to both of us.”

“….So cute.”

Saying so, Himuro-san licked over her lips bewitching for a second, so I got in between them right away to take Machina under my wings.

It, It might be better not to make fun of Asada’s sense of smell. Maybe Himoru-san really was a pervert?

When I disrespectful feared so, Himuro-san s.h.i.+fted her gaze from us to the school building and opened her mouth remembering with “Reminds me,”.

“I heard that on a rare occasion Asada-kun and the gentle s.a.d.i.s.t are working for the election this time. With Asada-kun on your side, I can’t let my guard down.”

“I know that Asada has his connections, but… who’s that gentle s.a.d.i.s.t?”

“The shy cross-dressing idol. It’s your other nickname, Nanjou-kun.”

On my casual question, Himuro-san answered with faintly flus.h.i.+ng her cheeks. Ignoring me, who got a light shock, she mixed a charm into her tone for some reason.

“Remember that I said you were famous at school? To be honest, I have been interested in Nanjou-kun for a while. Because I’m a maso— I mean, because Nanjou-kun is so charming.”

She made a rather concerning utterance, but Himuro-san gave me a somewhat pa.s.sionate gaze as if nothing had happened.

“Hey Nanjou-kun, do you want to enter the student council if I get elected? Of course I’ll invite Asada-kun too. I’ll just create new positions for some kind of reason… What do you say?”

Along with a bewitching smile, Himuro-san brought her finely chiselled features closer to me, whereupon Machina tightly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes and flickered her eyes with worry.

…Hey, hey. There was no way I would be swayed from something like this.

s.h.i.+fting my gaze slowly back to Himuro-san,

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t like the idea of working under someone.”

and resting my hand softly on Machina’s head at the same time, I made my tone more decisive with “However”.

“That said, I wouldn’t mind working under her. Just not anyone else. So I have no intentions to work for anyone but her.”

“… I see.”

Hearing my answer with my true feelings, Himuro-san sighed a bit regretful.

“To make the gentle s.a.d.i.s.t say all that, I expected nothing less from the Queen.”

“Hey, don’t call me by that nickname.”

“In the first place, I’m not a Queen!”

In spite of my and Machina’s instant retort, Himuro-san seemed not bother by it

“The strongest rival is you after all, Orangelo-san. I can leave th

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