Vol 10 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Chapter 03: Sad Promise

Someway my body was enveloped by a soft warmth. Furthermore, someone was apparently petting my head, which felt really good.

But, I doubtfully opened my eyes to escape the slumber.

“…M- Machina?”

Subtly a surprised voice leaked from my own mouth.

In front of my eyes and nose were Machina finely chiselled features and she clung to me in the bed while gently petting my head with her slender fingers.

“Wh- What’re you doing?”

“…J- Just some physical contact.”

Replying bashful to my question,

“Morning— s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama.”

Machina flushed her cheeks and smiled.

…Speaking of, yesterday it turned into me sleeping together with Machina.

While remembering that, I hastily got out of the bed at once, but… apparently the hypnosis from yesterday was still in effect. After eating breakfast, Machina sat down next to me on the sofa in living room and talked to me with a smile.

“Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama, do you have any plans today?”

“I’m tired from your and Luna’s kisses yesterday. My plan is to go back to sleep now.”

When I cracked such a playboy joke,

“Th- Then I will wait, so play with me when you wake up again.”

Machina softly rested her hand onto my thigh with a slightly regretful expression.

Even while the warm sensation of her palm made me somewhat agitated, I suddenly felt something amiss.

She addressed me different from yesterday. Yesterday it had been “Dear Brother”, but now it was “s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama”. And she did a bit of physical contact, but didn’t kiss me like yesterday. She was somewhat reserved.

When I doubtfully tilted my head, Elni showed up in the living room, then called out to me with a smile once she noticed me.

“Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu, I have a favour to ask. Can I?”

“…Your beloved s.h.i.+nbou is dead. Why!”

“Because he was a spoiled brat.”

Responding to my gag, Elni made a wry smile with “But s.h.i.+n.o.bu,”.

“Listen to me without joking around. We were talking just now and decided that we all will go to the department store now. Will you come along, s.h.i.+n.o.bu?”

“Yeah, on that occasion I can buy a novel at the bookstore.”

When I replied with a small nod, Machina, having heard our conversation, faced her somewhat worry filled eyes towards Elni.

“…Can I come along too?”

“Machina, I said we all, right?”

Slowly approaching Machina, Elni gentle petted her head and continued.

“Of course that includes you too, Machina. If you have no other plans, please come along. Luna and the others are getting ready right now. s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Machina— you too get ready in 40 seconds!”

When Elni added a joke at the end of her sentence, Machina giggled, nodded with a smile and headed for the door of the living room. She probably was going back to her room to get changed. When I watched her happily leaving with swift steps, Elni softly rested her hand on my shoulder.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Machina must be a bit tired from the student council election and all. It’s for a breather, so please keep her company today.”

“Sure, I don’t mind, but isn’t it bad to leave her like that? She’s still under hypnosis, right? When will it be lifted?”

“…If you take a proper look at her right now, you’ll notice right away too.”

Just replying so isolated, Elni left the living room like Machina.

On the other hand, I seriously pondered about Elni’s word for some time while I started to get ready too, following the two of them…

Then riding the car driven by my mother, our whole family headed for the big department store. I had been there with Luna and Nazuna before. At that time I had bought Luna her requested choker, but that aside now.

The big department store had general, electronic and book stores. It even had a game center and cinema. Thanks to today being Sunday, the stores were crowded with people.

Amidst that, Machina took my arm and was in a good mood.

Corresponding, her voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed onto my arm, which made me a bit restless, whereupon Luna, Nazuna and my mother showed bright smiles together for some reason. As a reprehensive of everyone, Elni gave Machina a warm-hearted look.

“Machina, we’ll leave now, since we have something to do, but we’ll call on s.h.i.+n.o.bu’s cell phone when we’re done. Until then have fun with s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”

“…I can stay with s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama?”

“Yeah. You can fawn on him all you want today again. Of course the same goes for us too. Once we’re done, let’s play together.”

Gently smiling like the others, Elni stretched herself a bit and petted Machina’s head. Seeing her like that made me smile and I softly called out to Elni.

“You really are like her older sister.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but… someone like me can’t become her older sister.”

Filling her expression a tiny bit with sadness, Elni got away from me and Machina, then slowly walked away with the smiling others.

…Just what were they going to do?

I was a bit curious, but for now I decided to go around the department store together with Machina.

During that, together with her, I feasted my eyes on cute accessories, stimulated my heart by listening to music samples and got attracted to by-pa.s.sing s.e.xy older girl… Aw, ouch.

When I looked at the scantily clad older girl, even though it was cold, Machina lightly pulled on my ear.

It wasn’t like I was fascinated by her, I was just wondering if she wasn’t cold…

When I s.h.i.+fted my gaze with a wry smile, Machina adorably puffed up her cheeks while still clinging to my arm.

“…You have me, yet you ogled at another girl.”

“She was rather s.e.xy.”

For now I responded with a joke, whereupon Machina wasn’t really angry and just asked worried.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama, you like s.e.xy girls like her?”

“Well, if I have to answer, then yes. An erotic and cool one isn’t bad either.”

“Erotic and cool? You like that type? Then the your favourite from all our girls is… Kaoru?”

“Well, she sort of falls into that category, but how should I say, everyone has it’s own charm. To be honest, it’s hard to say who is my favourite.”

“Th- Then, what about me? Do you… like my type?”

“…Listen, it’s embarra.s.sing, so I’ll only say it once.”

I should tell her on this occasion. In order to answer her question, I looked into her eyes.

“I really like you. I consider you my family. Types and such don’t matter. If anything happens, I’ll properly protect you.”

At the same time I declared so, my cheeks got hot and I tried to avert my gaze right away, but… Machina smiled so charming that I was unable to do so and was inadvertently captivated.

Dying her white cheeks with a rose-colour and happily narrowing her amber eyes,

“Thanks. I really love you too, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”

The words spilling out from her pink lips sounded somewhat lovely.

…She might have temporarily forgotten it from all the joy.

She herself didn’t seem to notice and after a while she called me s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama again, restarting the act while still holding my arm.

—If you take a proper look at her right now, you’ll notice right away too.

Elni’s earlier words. Now I finally understood the meaning behind her words and her heartfelt feelings.

…Elni must have wanted to let Machina act spoiled. And likewise, Machina must have wanted to act spoiled with us. Guessing from the feeling I had this morning, Machina’s hypnosis from yesterday was already lifted without a doubt.

However, she pretended to be under hypnosis even now and didn’t remove her soft body from my arm, but I refrained from pointing that out and kept her company for looking around the department store again. Then, after I looked at some novels for a while at a bookstore we stopped by, I left the store empty-handed, whereupon Machina asked puzzled.

“Were you not going to buy a novel?”

“Well, I had planned to, but…”

“Do you have not enough money? Then should I buy it for you?”

“No, but I appreciate the offer. I just wasn’t really interested in any. As for money, I still have some to spare. Should I buy you something on this occasion?”

“I, I would feel bad. You already bought me the cat-ear hat the other day. Only getting presents is—”

“Don’t hold back. I’m getting a lot of things from you. For example, your tricked&retort combo.”

Or a cute smile and heartfelt words. I was really getting a lot of things from her.

I couldn’t tell her that directly, since it was embarra.s.sing. But it didn’t change my sentiment of wanting to do something for her when she acted spoiled. After I had cut into Machina’s words, I filled my voice with my feelings.

“I just want to repay you for all the things you always give me. I’ll give you something even better than the cat-ear hat. By the way, is there anything you want? Nothing all too expensive, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“…Are you sure?”

Machina asked timidly. When I replied with a firm nod, she smiled with “Thanks”, then she pulled me on my arm with her eyes sparkling, as there was something she wanted. As we reached our destination, Machina pickedthat up and the moment she declared “I want this”, I was kind at a loss for words from the surprise.

…What Machina had picked up was a punk chocker with a blue tartan pattern and a metallic lock. It was a differently coloured design from the one I gave Luna as a present.

E- Even if they were sisters, to think Machina would make the same request as Luna…

Even while I was completely agitated, I bought the chocker for now, whereupon Machina glanced at me embarra.s.sed while flus.h.i.+ng her cheeks.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama, that choker, put it on…”

“As you command, Queen Machina.”

Like told, I tried to put the purchased choker around my own neck, but

“H- Hey! Why are you trying to put it on yourself! Wasn’t it a present for me? Besides, I’m not a Queen!”

It was embarra.s.sing, so I had replied with a joke, whereas Machina lightly puffed up her cheeks and even dampened her eyes a bit.

“Don’t be a meanie and properly put it onto me…”

“O- Okay, got it. Sorry.”

Even while I was agitated again by her reaction, I approached Machina and timidly reached out my hands to put the choker around her small white neck.

The faint fragrance of flowers hung in the air from her beautiful red hair and every time I lightly touched her neck with my fingertips, Machina leaked a sweet “Mm…” moan, so by the time I finished putting the choker on her, my earlier agitation had only grown stronger.

On the other hand, Machina happily touched the choker around her neck and showed me a sparkling smile.

“Thank you, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama. I want to do something to thank you. Saying anything you want me to do.”

“Guess I’ll ask one thing of you…”

Taking her offer, I softly told her my request after a short pause.

“Return to being your usual self already. You can fawn on us. All you want. But I still prefer your usual self. Return to your usual self, then fawn on me again. The hypnosis is already lifted, right?”

“….When did you notice?”

“To my shame, only just now. Elni probably noticed since this morning. And my mother has a good intuition, so she might have noticed too.”

Machina flickered her big eyes. Like I thought, the hypnosis was already lifted. Hearing my answer, she faintly dropped her voice with “I see…”.

“Actually, last night already, when I saw your scar before taking a bath together, I felt something amiss. That feeling became stronger in my fight with Sister later and at that time I didn’t notice it, but when I woke up in the morning… the hypnosis was gone already.”

Making a small sigh, Machina continued with her dropped voice.

“Yesterday was really embarra.s.sing, but I was so happy that I even wanted to thank Elni, so I wanted to keep it up a bit longer… I’m really sorry. I think my weird spoiled act troubled you guys.”

“…We never considered it troubles. So you don’t need to fool us with hypnosis, just honestly act spoiled if you want to.”

“That’s impossible… I’m not as kind as my sister. And not as cute as Elni and Nazuna, right? If something like me keeps acting spoiled, you’ll come to hate me one day. Even in my childhood… it was like that. Because I was weak and acted spoiled, everyone left me. It’s also my fault that my mother…”

Not saying anything more, Machina trembled her shoulders, cast her eyes down and shut her mouth.

While watching her expression, my chest started to hurt, but I suppressed it.

“Your family won’t come to hate you.”

I filled my tone with my feelings.

“You have your own charm. You too have your kind, cute and even strong sides. Even if you were to be weak, not honest or different from the others, all of that makes you you.”

Slowly reaching out my hand for Machina,

“I like you like that. So do the others. I told you, you’re my family. From now on, I’ll never come to hate you.”

I petted Machina’s head to convey my feelings.

Upon that, Machina tightly hugged onto me.

“…I think of you as my family too…”

Trembling both her voice and body,

“Thanks, s.h.i.+n.o.bu…”

Machina spilled quiet tears in my arms at the same time she said these warm-hearted words. I would have never guessed that she would cry and thus I was surprised, but I kept holding her for some time while petting her head…

As the shame got to her, Machina’s cheek were quite red, but my own were rather hot too and my face surely looked similar to hers.

Since we embraced each other in the middle of the department store earlier, the pa.s.sing by people gave us odd glances and amongst them, some even gave us mocking words like “Hot! So hot, even though it’s winter!”, so Machina and I hastily left the place when we returned to our senses.

Then we strolled through the department store, which randomly led us to a cell phone shop. There were the other girls on their separated business.

When I tried to call out to them upon noticing them, they noticed me before that and Luna, Nazuna and Elni started to panic for some reason. Unlike my mother, who showed a bitter smile, the three of them came rus.h.i.+ng over to me.

“Wh- What a coincidence to run into you two here. As a consequence, do you want to look at western clothes or so together? If possible, right away, Machina!”

“I, I’ll go with Luna-oneechan. You come too, Brother, Machina-oneechan. Especially you, Machina-oneechan, have to come with us as fast as possible!”

“I would like to check out the food samples— wait, no! A- Anyway, come with us, s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Machina! Only Machina works too, just make it quick!”

While leaking somehow agitated voices, they tried to keep Machina away from here.

…They said they had something to do, but just what was it?

While I doubtfully exchanged looks with Machina, my mother followed after the girls with hiding something behind her back and called out to Luna and the others with a wry smile.

“I know what you’re doing, but you don’t need to fool her that desperately. It’s all ready already.”

Along with her words, my mother held out what she had hid behind her back to Machina.

My mother was holding on… a slim cell phone.

“You don’t have one yet, right? This is a present for you, Machina-chan.”

“…For me?”

“Surprised, aren’t you? We kept quiet about it because we wanted to surprise you.”

My mother smiled happily and lightly rested her hand on the head of the nearby Elni.

“By the way, Elni had the idea. You two really are close. When we discussed the cell phone, Elni was serious for a change. She said that she wanted to give you a cell phone to make you happy.”

On these words, Elni smiled somewhat gentle and Machina flickered her eyes. Meanwhile my mother continued with her smile.

“You father is living overseas, right Machina-chan? You can make calls overseas with that phone, so from now on you can call and mail your father a lot, though it might get expensive.”

…My mother must have believed me and thought the Old Man Bram was living overseas. She didn’t know that he actually lived in the demon realm, nor that Luna and Machina were devils.

But, even if she were to notice it, my mother surely would accept them.

My mother’s voice and expression was so warm-hearted that it made me think so.

“I’m sure you father told you to come back if you aren’t elected, because he’s worried about you in various ways. Nevertheless, even though this might just be my selfishness, I’ll tell you on this occasion.”

After lightly scratching her cheek a bit bashful, my mother filled her tone with warmth.

“As long as you want to, you can stay here, Machina-chan. I really want you to stay too. So if there’s anything I can help with in the election, just tell me, okay?”

Still smiling, my mother conveyed her feelings and Nazuna and Luna each embraced Machina with “I want to be with Machina-oneechan too” and “I will help with the election as well”, whereupon Machina spilled big tears, even though she just had stopped crying earlier.

“…I too… want to… stay with you…”

Halting her speech so it was hard to understand, she continued to cry with sobs for some time while being embraced by the two of them.

During that, Elni and my mother embraced her as well at some point, which got us odd glances from pa.s.sers-by, but looking at my family kept warming my chest endless, so that ignored these glances.

Still, even while Elni blending in with the others, just her expression looked somewhat sad, which bothered me a bit…

The heartfelt holiday was over and while we were busy again with the election campaign, our cla.s.smates still gave Machina their full support.

The reason Asada came to school before anyone else was to secure the spot in front of the school gate for our greetings every morning. And whenever they got acquainted, he sometimes gathered information about our rivals together with Kaorun and apparently was working on something behind the scenes with the boys from cla.s.s.

Also, even the girls of our cla.s.s started to come to school earlier than Machina and me. At the morning, lunch break and after school they cross-dress me with the lead from Minami and accompanied Machina and me on our greeting sessions in turns.

On the other hand, Hijiri seemed kind of down.

The greatest rival to Machina was the current Vice-President, Himuro Kana-san.

Hijiri troubled the student council members by withdrawing her candidature not long ago and was originally in a position, where she had to help out Himuro-san to make up for it.

From what I heard from Kaorun during the campaign, Hijiri once lowered her head to Himuro-san and apologized that she couldn’t help her, since she was supporting Machina.

However, we couldn’t let Hijiri come out in the open and she herself understood why she had to work behind the scenes, but she once had made a regretful and bitter sigh with “Why did I announce my candidature back then? Even though it was an important time for Machina”, as she really wanted to accompany us on the greetings.

However, her sentiment to support Machina must have been really strong.

Together with Kaorun and Asada, she worked hard at the information hunt which she was unfamiliar with and lately seriously pondered about a speech, so that she at least could come out in the open for the support speech.

And the members of our family undaunted supported Machina too.

I believed Luna was trying to ease Machina’s exhaustion as least a bit. Day by day, the lunchbox made by her became more extravagant and lately I often even saw Luna giving Machina a ma.s.sage.

Meanwhile, Nazuna researched about the election together with her friend Mii-chan, whereas my mother wrecked her brains over campaign pledges and speeches. Both of them gave Machina all kind of advices.