Vol 7 Chapter 1 (2/2)
To express gratitude that words could not convey, I stroked Tia's head Tia grabbed my hand, raised her head from the water and leaned in towards me
”M the old Tia Because, last time in a bath with Mitsuki, the three of us, or at the hot spring Tia's heart did not beat so fast”
Tia pulled ainst her left breast I could feel a slight bulge even though it was not big
”Wha—”
My thoughts suddenly halted Feeling the heartbeat transmitted to my hand, my mind went blank
”Yuu, can you feel Tia's heartbeat?”
”Y-Yeah”
I nodded partially out of reflex, then htly Tia's body suddenly shuddered
”Mh a bit scary It's very comfortable”
Flushed red in the face, Tia covered my hand with her hands
”Ya Ah Mm”
The softly bulging elasticity and the flower bud that strongly ehts
”Hey Yuu Is Tia very weird right now?”
Blushi+ng intensely, Tia asked me uneasily
”No, I think You're not weird at all At least, probably, it's due to Yggdrasil”
Not knowing how to answer, I replied auously
But Tia was reassured and her expression relaxed
”Thank goodness Then, if it's not weird, Tia doesn't need to keep holding back what Tia wants to do”
Saying that, Tia hugged me from the front
”H-Hey—”
I panicked from the direct skin contact Unconcerned, Tia pressed herself tightly against my body
”Yuu, tell Tia whenever you are ready”
”Huh?”
I hesitated for ato my memories
”Any time, no matter when, Tia will support Yuu So, the precious memories must return”
Tia hugged htly and looked up at s, but was too
The force Tia's body exerted The refreshi+ng fragrance that cleansed one's soul The sensation of smooth and soft skin
All this was depriving ing area
I instantly regained my senses and Tia separated from me with her face red
The person in the changing area re like Tia and quietly opened the bathroom door
”Ah Tia is here as expected She stole ahead again”
Wrapped in a towel, Firill entered
Seeing hed
”W-Why are you co in too, Firill!?”
I asked frantically Firill tilted her head slightly
”Because bathing together is more efficient with so many of us”
”What efficiency”
”Also Mononobe, I want to ”
Firill s cheeks then stepped into the tub, sub herself With three people in the tub, the water overflowed and spilled out
The bathtub was not that big Hence, after Firill squeezed in, Tia and I were pressed tightly together again
”Ah”
Leaning her head against my chest, Tia curled up shyly
”Mononobe-kun, sorry forthe tub so crowded”
Leaning against e breasts floating on the water, I could not deny that
But at thisarea
”—Mononobe Yuu, are you there?”
I heard Lisa's voice co from the door Tia frantically covered her mouth and Firill held her breath
”Y-Yeah, I'm here”
I feigned cal oing to let me off so easily
”I can't find Tia-san and Firill-san They are not together with you, are they?”
However, I still broke out in cold sith fright when I heard that question Lisa looked like she was here in search of the area, Firill hadand hers
”H-How could that be possible Those ton't coht?”
With the determination to flee the bathroom immediately as soon as Lisa left, I lied
”True Sorry for disturbing you”
Saying that, Lisa hed in relief but Lisa did not exit the changing area
Next, I heard the rustling of clothing I suddenly had a bad premonition
”U-Umm As a special reward for how hard you've worked, only for today, allow me to scrub your back Also, it is ether—”
Saying the sa as Firill, Lisa entered the bathroo her body see below her chest and abdomen
Well aware of that herself, she stretched the towel, trying her hardest to cover the majority of her body
However, she paused as soon as she saw Tia and Firill together withthe rest of her sentence
Finally, as shaer, Lisa's face also flushed red
”What is this!? Aren't Tia-san and Firill-san right here!?”
”No, it's because—”
Having lied, all explanations were rendered weak and ineffectual However, Firill stared at Lisa and said:
”But Lisa, you wanted to take a bath with Mononobe-kun too, so you can't scold us for that, right?”
”W-Well No, I was simply concerned—”
”Stop looking for excuses, Lisa, and come on in We can probably fit another person”
Firill waved and enticed Lisa with the bathtub
”That way, it'll be more efficient!”
S, Tia repeated what Lisa said just now
”B-But”
Lisa's gaze wandered in hesitation Firill hugged my shoulders at once
”If you don't come, Lisa, I'll have Mononobe-kun all to myself”
”Muguu Enough, Firill, this is a bit uncomfortable”
Sandwiched between me and Firill, Tia coirls,away No, perhaps I had si in the bath
”H-Hold on, Firill, know soht this instant!”
Lisa was already blushi+ng to her ears She i to pull us apart
I could not tear h
”M-Mononobe Yuu, what are you staring at!?”
Lisa frantically tugged at a corner of her towel, but this brought down the top end, displaying her deep cleavage before my eyes
”S-Sorry”
I frantically turnedFirill and Tia, s were pinned down, I could not stand up either
Just as I was in a dile out of control, I heard frantic footsteps
”What is theof this!?”
So area directly and pulled the bathrooo
Showing up fully clothed, Mitsuki's expression was grim
A dark smile surfaced on her face while she looked alternately between Tia, Firill, me, and Lisa who had one foot in the tub
”M-Mitsuki-san, uainst”
Lisa explained in panic but confronted with Mitsuki's cold stare, she lost the power to argue
”Mitsuki, come in and join us?”
Firill asked weakly but Mitsuki glared at her and shut her up
”Mitsuki So scary”
Intied half her face
”Wondering why it was so noisy, I came to have a look But never did I expect even Lisa”
Mitsuki sighed with her hand against her forehead
”Mitsuki, what's wrong?”
Then Ariella and the others appeared as well
”Wawa Mononobe, what are you doing!?”
Leaning out from behind Mitsuki, Iris went red in the face and asked
”Hwah Onii-chan?”
Going red, Ren hid behind Ariella
Seeing everyone's reactions, Mitsuki glared sharply at me
”So Nii-san, there is a s I wish to say, but before that—”
”W-What is it?”
I gulped and asked Mitsuki roared in anger:
”How er do you intend to expose your naked body to everyone!?”
”S-Sorry! I'll get dressed immediately!”
I instantly lifted Tia and stood up, trying to leave the tub
But without considering the consequences of this action, I fully exposed my lower body that had been hidden underwater
”Ah”
It was too late for regrets
All eyes were focused on one point Next, seven people's worth of screa ensued
Part 4
On the second floor of the Mononobe home, my room was adjacent to Mitsuki's
There was a lot of shounen a on the bookshelves A satchel with back straps was still hanging on an elementary schooler's desk The school calendar on the desk still showed March froo It looked like NIFL had taken raduation I felt like I was recalling someone else's memories
To o, this rooed to someone else
I apparently liked soccer at the time The posters on the walls were all soccer players
Resting against the futon, I looked at the posters, sighing deeply
I was not si due to the loss of mylecture Mitsuki delivered after the bathroom crisis
Moreover, Iris had witnessed the scene Judging froht be very difficult
Iris was in Mitsuki's rooether However, after that lecturing, I really did not have the courage to visit Mitsuki's rooain
Unable to cal the curtains open, I could see a bit of light in the opposite house
Over there here Mitsuki lived before beco ht I could currently see was probably used for illumination
—At this distance, it was definitely possible to converse with the s opened
As soon as I thought about how Mitsuki and I used to have happy conversations like this, an to ache intensely
At this htly ajar
”Mononobe Can I come in?”
I could see Iris' face froap in the door
I walked over in surprise and opened the door Dressed in a negligee, Iris fidgeted shyly She looked like she was still bothered by what had happened in the bathroom
”You caet mad?”
To prevent us fro public morals in the house, Mitsuki had warned ahead of time If she discovered Iris caain
However, Iris s
”Don't worry, Mitsuki-chan tired herself out scolding all of you She is already asleep”
”Really Then let's talk now”
Feeling guilty for exhausting Mitsuki, I invited Iris into the room
”Wow It's like a kid's bedroom”
Iris looked around in interest then sat down on the futon
”I actually was a kid when I lived here By the hy are you sitting there?”
”Eh, I can't?”
Iris tilted her head in puzzle on the futon, there seemed to be an element of seduction However, Iris had no self-awareness of that sort
”It's not that you can't Whatever, let's proceed”
I cal on the futon
”Is this a very important topic?”
Iris confirmed with a serious look on her face
”Yes”
I nodded and took a deep breath Although it was decided abruptly, I already prepared , I already fully understood the existence of ”myself”
”Actually, Tia told me, she'll return my memories to me”
”Eh?”
Iris was stunned for a moment then spoke in surprise:
”S-So you're saying Tia-chan can return your memories to the way they were, Mononobe!?”
”Wait, not so loud”
I frantically covered Iris' lips I carefully observed the presence next door It looked like the noise had not woken Mitsuki
”S-Sorry But That's wonderful, Mononobe That's truly wonderful”
Large teardrops fell fro voice
It looked like in her consideration for ht lose her ”number one” position in my heart
Thus, even if I told her what troubled me, she would surely ask me to retrieve my memories
Through just now, I had already confirmed this fact
Hence, I needed to steel my own determination even more
”Thank you for being happy for me, Iris But to be frank, I'm very afraid”
”Afraid?”
”How s for you, Iris, will change I et overwritten by my past self, it makes me very afraid”
Iris was instantly stunned by what I said
”That's true I kno you feel, Mononobe Still But—”
Iris placed her hand on her chest and looked at me with a pained expression
”—I know Even so, I must retrieve my memories”
”Mm-hmm I think that's best Because you look like you've been suffering the whole time, Mononobe Poor Mitsuki-chan, kept in the dark all along”
For the second ti concerned for herself
”It's not an issue between Mitsuki and me In my current state, I can't face you, Iris So, I have to move forward and retrieve my past self”
Iris had alorried about Mitsuki Influenced by the real ”Mononobe Yuu,” I also felt guilty, unable to grow closer with Iris Due to this indecisive state, I could only uous affection with Tia and the others
As a result, no one was going to obtain happiness if the status quo continued
”Mononobe”
”I will definitely becoet anything, including you, Iris I won't forget s for you”
”Yeah”
Iris brushed the corner of her eye with a finger then replied in a sobbing voice
”Hey Mononobe, will you promise me a willful request, just one?”
”What is it?”
Enduring the pain in my heart, I asked NoI could to actualize it
”In the end I'd like to have a date with the current Mononobe, just the two of us”
S tearfully, Iris told me her wish
”It's a promise”
I instantly replied Iris smiled happily
”Thank you It's already late tonight, so how about to?”
”No problem”
”Then let's wake up earlier to”
Saying that, Iris stood up then left htly
Leaving only traces of tears
Part 5
The nextside by side in toithin the air
The sun had just risen and the air was still a bit chilly
It was very quiet in the surroundings Sounds of car engines and birds singing could be heard clearly
”Looks like we ran away successfully without anyone discovering”
”By the way, I can't believe you et up so early Mitsuki would have woken if you used an alarm clock”
Roused by Iris before 5am, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and commented
I never expected Iris, who often overslept at school, to get up this early
”Oh, umm, well—Yeah”
Iris answered vaguely On closer examination, her eyes were a bit red
”Hmm? No way—You didn't sleep?”
”Rather than didn't sleep, it's more like I couldn't sleep B-But don't worry, I already slept in the van yesterday!!”
Seeing Iris s It would be insensitive to say I was tired despite sleeping so soundly
”Oh, Mononobe! It's really fine, don't worry Coimme a smile, it's a rare date after all”
Seeing my expression, Iris spoke cheerfully and heldfroers and sloomy face
”You're right We should enjoy our date right now”
I gripped Iris' hand in return and looked around
Slightly farther away frohborhood was the entrance to the arcade shopping street
We naturally walked over there
The shops were not open at this time with only one delivery vehicle stopped there and no one could be seen behind it
”But is this kind of date okay? There are no shops open right now”
Would Iris be happy like this? I asked her
”Don't worry, I' a walk, because I'ether with me?”
”No, of course not”
”Then that's enough This is our date, Mononobe”
Iris smiled happily and alked arm in arm
Although this ave er sense of Iris' presence
Indeed, nothing else would be needed
Ar the street Without any s to her I even had to take care not to get lost
Hence, we made one round then returned to the vicinity of my house
The date would be over if ent home just like that We stopped in front of a park on the side of the road and looked at each other
—We wanted to stay together longer
After confirs, we entered the park
This was a small park with leisure facilities for small children At this hour, it was completely deserted
Maintaining this posture, ar at this park we had all to ourselves
”We have to get back before the others wake up
Iris said sadly
”Not really, it's fine even if this date continued for the entire day Since we're on vacation, it's fine even if we don't stay in touch Oh well, although we'll face all kinds of questioning afterwards”
I squinted at thesun and answered
Despite estion, I still felt very scared Perhaps I still wanted to remain with Iris like this indefinitely
If possible, I wanted time to stop at this s
”Thank you, Mononobe, but No We can't worry Mitsuki-chan”
Iris shook her head resolutely Instead of choosing to escape, she was going to, with determination—
”Iris”
She was very resilient indeed, always guiding me on the important points
”Also, no matter how much time we have, the final fareill always be painful”
Iris smiled dreamily and looked into my eyes
She was like me No, she was even more afraid than me, but she did not escape
”That's why, here—Let's end it here It's fine to end it like this”
Saying that, she closed her eyes and lifted her face
—Such frustration
Why was I so weak?
As least right now, I needed to beco as her
”Got it”
Answering briefly, I drew near Iris' face
Mustering e, I slowly approached the end
My distance between Iris shortened bit by bit Finally, all I could see was her
Then we made contact
Soft, warhtly moistened lips
This was the third and perhaps our last kiss
In order not to forget thistime
But ultimately, the end had to come Iris slowly dreay and ended the kiss quite calmly
While I was still in a daze
”Then let's go back,” Iris used a cheerful voice to remind me
With blushi+ng cheeks, she forlornly released my arm and stood up
I wanted to pull her back and ehtly but that would waste her resolve
Clenching e and stood up from the bench
At this moment, I noticed
Mitsuki was standing at the park entrance, staring at Iris and me in a shocked expression
”Wha—”
I exclaimed in surprise Why was Mitsuki here No, this park was near the house
Probably noticing Iris and I had gone out after she woke up, Mitsukifor us
But this really was the worst ti
”Ah”
Meeting aze, Mitsuki cried out and took a step back
But for a moment, I could not move, unable to even call her
Then Iris ran over
”Mitsuki-chan!!”
She si to flee
”U-Unhandupon you I had no intention of peeking—”
”No! This is the end! Mononobe has alanted to turn back into the Mononobe who loves you most! So—Don't run away!”
Iris spoke to Mitsuki in a strong tone of voice
After hearing this, Mitsuki stopped struggling as hard
”The end? Turn back What on earth is this about—”
With a troubled expression, Mitsuki asked Iris
”Everything, all of it will be explained Sorry, Mitsuki-chan What happened just noas my willfulness”
Iris hugged Mitsuki tightly, her shoulders kept shaking
Mitsuki gradually calmed down and looked in my direction
”Nii-san”
After taking a deep breath to calm myself, I walked over to Mitsuki's side
By this point, there was no way to hide things But the situation had changed Thanks to Tia, I was now able to recover my memories
Furthermore, I had already resolved myself to turn back into Mononobe Yuu Even if the truth was brought to light, Mitsuki would not despair
”Mitsuki, you probably noticed I've been hiding sos from you”
I tried my hardest to stay calm and confirmed with Mitsuki
When I revealed that Yggdrasil was taking overs
”Indeed, Nii-san, last time you said that you would tell ”
Troubled, Mitsuki nodded and looked at me
”Yeah Although it's a bit early, I'll tell you now”
Resolvingto Mitsuki
Part 6
”Wait here for o call Tia-chan”
Iris left Mitsuki and I in front of the entrance and went into Mitsuki's old home
Tia was probably sleeping on the second floor with Lisa Iris was fetching her to recover my memories
Having listened to the whole story at the park, Mitsuki now stared in shock at the sky
”Seriously, I never would have thought”
Mitsuki whispered
”Soe to download new data of anti-dragon ar in this town That kind of thing, even if you tell me—”
Saying that, Mitsuki gnashed her teeth and glared at me sharply
”Also, even saying i to retrieve your memories immediately—How am I supposed to react? Be sad? Be happy? I do not even knohat expression to use to face the matter”
S in self- pebbled stopped after hitting my shoe
”I am sorry, Mitsuki”
”What in particular are you apologizing for?”
”For lying to you, Mitsuki Pretending to be your brother as 'Mononobe Yuu' when I clearly have no memories”
Hearing that, Mitsuki sighed deeply
”Lying—is definitely not good, but there is no need to feel bothered about pretending to be my brother”
”Huh?”
”Do you think I would fail to notice if so lost your memories, Nii-san, you are still yourself I still know that, at least”
Mitsuki stared at entler
”So Whether 'the memories will come back so it is fine' or 'Nii-san will turn back into his original self' Even if you telllike that, none of that would excite er is brewing But there is no telling what it ether”
In our dialogue, Mitsuki voiced how lost she felt I did not kno to answer either, hence silence descended upon us again
Evidently, even after confessinginfor with Mitsuki
I was unsure what exactly Mitsuki wanted to express
”Nii-san You and Iris-san were kissing, right?”
”Y-Yeah”
Surprised, I nodded
”Iris-san said it was the end and that once your memories recovered, you would turn back into the Nii-san who loves rounds is that belief founded upon?”
”Well”
All I could think of was the childhood promise Mitsuki had mentioned after the Basilisk battle
”Gettingadulthood That hat you and I proht?”
Mitsuki asked as though reading my mind
”That's right”
It was pointless to deny it—I had no choice but to admit
”Iris-san is nice to a fault”
Mitsuki smiled wryly and spoke softly
”Ahhh—I still do not get it Should I be happy? Should I be sad? Or should I be angry? Everything is inco is—”
Saying that, Mitsuki looked down
The atain Thus, after ti a word, the main door opened with a clatter
As though trying to escape the aard atmosphere, Mitsuki and I both looked at the door We happened toout We all smiled wryly
”M-Mononobe Sorry, the others found out”
In addition to the apologetic Iris and Tia, four ether Lisa, Firill, Ariella and Ren
”Ahhh”
I rested ht, asking Iris to bring just Tia out alone was too tall a task It was unavoidable that the others would discover her
”So, what are you trying to do? Please explain properly”
Arain, Iris and I explained the situation to everyone
”More secrets Givemad now, you know?”
”I'm already mad, and it seems like we're the only ones kept out of the loop”
After learning the whole story, Ariella and Firill stared at me
To prevent the co my parents' attention, ent over to the earlier park
Choosing a park over indoors was due to Tia's request A park where trees greould apparently allow Yggdrasil to e the plant network
”Well, you two should calm down first Since the memories can be recovered, we should hurry and attempt it It would not be too late to save the complaints for later”
”Yes, Onii-chan's memories are the most important”
Already in the know, Lisa and Ren began to appease Ariella and Firill
”That's right, we er Tia-chan, please Return Mononobe's memories”
Iris urged Tia seriously
”Got it”
Still looking a little sleepy, Tia rubbed her eyes and shook her head to wake herself up
”Nii-san, is this really for the best?”
Mitsuki asked me sorrowfully
”Yeah”
I nodded and Mitsuki looked at Iris
”Mitsuki-chan, I've always been waiting for this moment to arrive”
Iris noticed Mitsuki's gaze and responded with a cheerful smile It was a smile of resilience without a shred of hypocrisy
Mitsuki looked like she wanted to say so a sound
”Okay, Yuu, Tia will try hard too”
Under everyone's watch, Tia stood before me
”What do I need to do?"