Chapter 60 - Volume 4 (1/2)

Extra Arc『Modern-era』ver Shade

*An extra-arc gag chapter. It’s a ‘If the characters in yandere otome~ were high school school students in the modern era’ kind of story. The character developments are different from the original story and contain elements of what ifs.

「It seems like Shade turned into a delinquent……」 said Crinum, hanging her head down in shame.

Crinum and Shade were my cousins, but the two were brother and sister from different mothers. The two had complicated family circumstances.

Though I left out the troubles of the past, the two’s sibling relationship wasn’t so pleasant even now. My aunt, Crinum’s mother, stuck to an attitude of 『having no relation』 with her stepchild, Shade, and she compels Crinum to have that attitude as well.

But Crinum, herself, worries about Shade and often comes to consult with me.

「Shade, a delinquent……？」

I immediately recalled the time when Shade had only just come to the Rangrutz home. At that time, being three years old, he’d been a sweet angelic child with adorable, puffy rose-colored cheeks.

He grew up before we knew it, and the sad thing was, he became very cheeky. I wonder if he started smoking or something when he finally became a second year high school student.

「That’s right. Recently, he’s even been coming home late…… and the smell of perfume is often on his clothes, based on what the maids tell me. I hear he’s been working part-time, but it looks like he faked his age a little and is working in a store that handles alcohol……」

「I see. Sort of sounds like he’s dipped a foot into the nightlife. If the school finds out, it would probably be enough to get suspended, wouldn’t it? But still……」

I tried to imagine Shade shaking a cocktail in a bartender getup. Then, I tried to arrange beautiful, mature onee-sans, who like to make passes at younger men, and the like around him.

It became quite the picture.

「――it is kind of irritating that he’s straying from the right path just to pointlessly look cool. I mean, it’s not like he’ll do anything daring like get a pompadour or wear a long tunic」

「Lycoris……。I think that way of thinking is a bit cruel」

Anyway, it came down to me to try talking to Shade.

In truth, I think it would’ve been better if Father was here.

Father loves Shade like he was his own son, so much so that there was a room set up just for him at our house.

Likewise, Shade was also considerably close to Father and he seemed to have had various consultations alone with him about particularly difficult times in his junior days and such. Said Father was currently on a business trip abroad.

So, after I had dinner together with Shade, who visited our house for the weekend, I decided to lecture him.

「Shade. Could you wait for a while before going back to your room? I have something to say」

Once I announced this with a formal sounding tone, Shade raised his eyebrow.

「What is it？」

「It seems you’ve been coming home quite late recently」

「Maybe. I’ve been busy playing around with a new friend I’ve made」

He said, acting indifferently and playing dumb.

When Shade came to the house, he didn’t make the mistake of having the smell of perfume or anything on him. If he had, he would’ve gotten pressed for answers by his nagging cousin, me.

「The friend who makes you smell like alcohol and perfume？」

「……did you hear something from Crinum?」

「I take that as a yes, then」

Shade hmphed and did an extremely uncute type of smile.

「I’m working part time for a while to learn about society. That’s it. I have no particular interest in cheap alcohol or cigarettes」

「Y-your way of saying it is so uncute……」

「I’d appreciate if you don’t describe me as that. In the first place, it’s an insult to call a guy who turned sixteen, “cute”」

「It can’t be helped. For me, you’re my cute little brother, after all」

「I’m not your little brother」

Since Shade spoke in an icy voice, I got nearly overwhelmed.

「To begin with, it’s not like you’re even family so please stop acting like you’re my legal guardian」