Chapter 175 (1/2)

Volume 2

Chapter 154

Chapter 154 Still, The Hero Does not Reach 2

「I’m home」「……」

When I opened the front door of the house, the words came out of my mouth naturally even though I knew that there would be no response.

Mai beside me says nothing. This difference was probably a result of her spending a lot of time truly alone in this house, where even I was not with her.

A change that seems trivial and yet serious.

「Well, I’m hungry, and I’m going to have dinner」

「Brother, let’s cook together once in a while」

「Cooking? Why all of a sudden?」

「A lovely sister that thinks of her brother so much, would want to happily cook as siblings from time to time.」

With that said, Mai smiles again.

That smile as gentle and soft.

Even though she merely wants to spend time with me, today that smile hurt.

「……Yea, Let’s make it together…… why. Well, just look at that and admire my cooking skills, Sister.」

I showed my emotions in a normal manner so as not to irritate the mind of Mai.

Also, I was nervous to take my eyes off her as she was right now.

「I don’t expect my brother to be good at cooking. First of all, my brother’s cooking experience is about cooking practice at school, isn’t it?」

「That’s not true……. and … No, no, that’s right. Well, if I have at least such experience, I at least can peel the vegetables.」

I felt like I could cook.

Well, there’s no basis for that, but perhaps I’ve had some cooking experience in period for which I have no memory.

In my dreams, I was traveling in a different world. Then, of course, I would have had the opportunity to cook.

(……I thought that I had to admit, but I think that the other world smoothly is because the memory is about to return)

「Really? I don’t care if you will end up cutting your fingers?」

「No, no, do not underestimate how dexterous are my hands.」

I feel that the demon inside Me is trying to pull the chain across the thin wall, shrug my shoulders and smile.

After washing her hands in the kitchen’s sink, Mai peeks into the refrigerator.

「What are you making?」

「Yes, meat and potatoes……. and… No, let’s make a curry.」

Mai gave me a sidelong glance and decided to switch the menu.

Apparently she read from my reaction what I would want to eat. In fact, when I saw the contents of the refrigerator, I imagined it would be a curry.

(…… From the point that even this gives me deja vu, I guess in that another world or whatever, I also was the one who would get a cooking done for him..)

That was the thought that crossed my mind while watching Mai who prepared quickly the ingredients for two people.

「…..Brother, you are really good with your hands.」

「Not as good as Mai.」

Standing next to Mai and peeling skin from vegetables I thought, I’m surprisingly used to using a kitchen knife. No, it’s not even about a kitchen knife, but blades in general.

(I’m not a murderer, am I?……)

Having blade in my hands felt just that natural, with my every new move I put the blade at the optimal angle without even being aware of it.

I felt anger from the old me being closer as it resonated with such disgusting imagination.

「……」

「? What’s wrong, Mai?」

「No, it’s just a little frustrating that brother is so good at handling a kitchen knife. It is cheating, why does it feel that you are better than Mai at something at which I worked for years.」

「Hehe, I told you, this is a good opportunity for you to renew your evaluation of your big brother.」

I said puffing my chest with pride.

Usually, at such times Mai would reply,『 You must not get full of yourself. Those who grow arrogant don’t live long, and this rate you soon will turn into useless brother. 』

But … …… no.

「As expected of my big brother, I’m very happy」

Mai says so and laughs again.

Even though I was praised by my precious sister, I was not happy at all.

「…Ouch.」

Because I was thinking about that. my hand slipped a little.

A vividly blood red line appears where I touched the knfe.

「Oh, I did it. Mai, a first-aid kit ………」

「Hamu.」

Like a fish on a bait, I caught my little sister on my finger.

The sensation of her tongue crawling over my wound.

「Mmm, mm.」

When I was in daze accompanied by the sound of the running water, she already let go of my hand.

「Puha ~, now it’s good. What left is to put a bandaid on it.」

With that said, Mai took out the first-aid kit from the back of the shelf on the edge of the kitchen.

Taking bandaid from there and taking hold of my hand she slapped bandaid on the wound.

「That won’t do, brother, you are so quick to get full of yourself..」

「Oh, dear. I’m sorry.」

I’ve never been in such situation before, so I thank her with a little bit of confusion.

Normally she wouldn’t do something like disinfecting a wound by licking, and would just stick bandaid after normally cleaning it with water.

「Even so, blood is surprisingly delicious, isn’t it? Brother.」

Saying that she licked her lips.

There was something weirdly fascinating about that, like in the uncertain beauty of the lonely flower, blooming at a riverside, that might disappear at any moment.

「Oh, but it is delicious because it is brother’s blood, other people’s blood worths less than nothing.」

「…… Idiot, stop saying stupid stuff and let’s get back to cooking already.」

「Oh, brother, it hurts. You’re so mean.」

「I don’t care, I don’t care..」

I gave a random reply and returned to the peeling of vegetables again.

I didn’t see the face of Mai, who was sulking so cutely.

No, I didn’t want to see it, so I looked the other side.

「…………」

So, I don’t know what kind of expression Mai was wearing at that time.

However, the curry I ate that day was delicious, but somehow I could not feel the taste.

————————

That day, after we had dinner, time passed as usual.

No, it probably was somewhat unusual. Pressed by Mai as she was going to the bath, I now was sitting in front of the door that separates the bathroom and the dressing room.

Because of my back injury, I did not take a bath, and after wiping the area other than where the injury was with a wet towel, then I had Mai to apply suppurative salve on the wound on the back and had it wrapped it bandage.

I thought I would change the bandage on my head, but I just had it replaced in the hospital today, so I left it as it is.

After that I changed into sleepwear, and together with Mai watched a TV program, that wasn’t particularly interesting, while eating potato chips, and when the time came, both of us went to our rooms.

「……Time to go back to our rooms.」

「Yes, brother.」

Usually, each of goes to their own room, and about an hour later Mai would sneak into my bed when I sleep. Every time I sense her presence and wake up, but pretend that I’m sleeping, I get up as if nothing happened after waiting long enough for Mai to quietly retreat from the bed the next morning.

But today was different.

「Brother, Can I sleep with you today?」

「……」

Why would you bring up on purpose something that we already had unspoken agreemnt about?

「I don’t mind that much.」

「Then, brother, I will bring a pillow.」

In any case, if I can ease the worries of Mai even a little bit by sleeping next to her, then by all means, what else can I ask for.

Mai, smiling happily, returned to her room once. I went into my room first and leaving the lights on got into the futon and closed my eyes.

Tomorrow is school.

I guess I’ll use phone to look for a new hospital during the class.

「……」

A screech of opening door.

Entering the room, she didn’t say anything in particular.

「Mai, turn off the lights.」

「……」

I asked her to turn off the light that was left on so she woudn’t fumble in the darkness. However, the light does not disappear, and the no reply came from her.

「Brother……. Brother.……」

「Mai?」

「I’m not turn off the lights.」

Mai slowly came closer to the bed, but aren’t trying to get inside.

There was something disturbing in the way she called me.

However, when I opened my eyes again and saw Mai, I felt like I was splashed with a cold water due to my late response.

「Brother, my brother, is mine and only mine big brother, right……?」

When Mai took my hand that I tried to move, it turned out to be handcuffed to the bed.

「Huh? Eh?」

And while I was still in a daze from surprise, the other hand and both feet are were smoothly bound bu handcuffs as well.

「Wha, h-hey, Mai, what are you doing?!?」

For some, the sight of me wriggling under a futon with my eyes wide open from shock and all limbs restrained by handcuffs surely looked ridiculous.