Volume 8 - Chapter 16 – Being Called a Brother (1/2)

08-16 Being Called a Brother

After bathing, the two had a meal at a time that wasn’t quite breakfast nor was it quite lunch.

“This time I’ve done the cooking.”

Laozi said. He appeared to be in high-spirits about making food for Jin for the first time, so the portions were on the larger side but because of their hunger the two ate it all without problems.

“Thanks.”

Jin’s stomach swelled out and his eyelids began to droop.

“Father, please have a brief rest.”

Reiko worried about Jin’s health.

“Ah, right. I suppose I’ll take a short nap. Elsa must be sleepy too.”

“Mm.”

Then, he guided Elsa to the mansion. Due to it being spring, despite Hourai Island being north of the Northern Tropic it was rather warm by midday.

“Make yourself at home.”

“What’s, this. I’ve never seen a building like this before.”

Elsa was wide-eyed in wonder at the Japanese-style tiled roof architecture.

“Well, let’s just have a short rest. After that I’ll explain everything.”

“Mm, I’m looking forward to it.”

He laid out a futon in a room facing south and called Elsa there.

“This also has tatami mats. I’m glad.”

Elsa said and threw herself on the with a whump. After that she rolled around all over the place and towards the futon. Almost like a child.

“So, I’ll be going to my own room to sleep for a bit.”

Jin said and was about to close the sliding screen when,

“…Wait. …Please, just stay by me for a little while.”

He was held back by Elsa’s heartrending voice.

“Got it.”

Jin once more went back to Elsa’s room and lay down on the tatami.

“I’ll be here, so you can rest easy.”

“Mm. Thanks, Jin-kun.”

This time Elsa closed her eyes looking calm from the bottom of her heart.

“…Lonesome, isn’t she.”

Jin reminisced of the past.

During his orphanage days, there was a time when they had taken custody of a girl who had lost her parents. She was a student on the third year of elementary school and could never sleep unless she had someone next to her.

Starting with Jin, the older children had slept by her in turns. Jin was nostalgic as he thought about those days.

“Father, it’s about time for you to wake up, please.”

And just like that, before he knew it Jin had also fallen asleep. He was woken up by Reiko’s voice.

“Yawn, I slept well.”

Jin got up and stretched. Reiko looked to be in a bit of a bad mood.

“Father, if you don’t sleep properly in a futon you won’t get any less tired. Besides, what if you caught a cold?”

“Ah, sorry. But I was worried about Elsa.”

He apologized, and Reiko looked reluctantly accepting.

“It’s soon 3 o’clock. If you don’t contact Reinhardt-san he’ll get worried.”

“Ah, you’re right. I had already been considering telling Reinhardt about this place sooner or later, but…”

Jin said to Reiko who nodded and,

“I will follow whatever Father thinks is the best.”

She said.

Jin quietly left the room, and tried asking the same thing about Laozi through his terminal in the mansion.

“Yes, if My Lord thinks it is a good idea then please carry on to do so. I shall support you with my full capabilities.”

Laozi also said something similar, and Jin finally decided to bring Reinhardt along with him here.

Then, the pitter-patter sound of running steps were heard from the hallway. Jin wondered what was going on and went to take a look, and there was Elsa, running.

“Elsa?”

He said to Elsa’s back as she had passed him by, and suddenly she stopped and slowly turned around.

“Jin, kun?”

“Elsa, wh-what’s wrong?”

In Elsa’s eyes enough tears had gathered that it looked like they would fall any moment now.

“Jin-kun!”

Then Elsa came jumping towards Jin.