Vol 5 Chapter 4 (2/2)
Hazuki-chan then sat on my knees I see, so that’s how it is
“Sorry to keep you waiting I’ll put this table—hey, Hazuki, what are you doing?”
“Ehehe~ Hazuki wants to sit here and study”
“No way You’ll get in Aki’s way!”
Mina It’ll be great if she just tellsaction for real when she faces me…
“I’m fine here, Minami Hazuki-chan’s small anyway”
As co forced down hard, I don’t feel hurt at all when Hazuki-chan’s sitting on s
“You’re so kind, baka onii-chan”
It will be proble, but hly, so there won’t be any problems I just need a memorization sheet to study unlike homehere I have to write
“It’s alright if you’re fine with that…but Aki, don’t you feel weird somewhere?”
“Akihisa-kun, if there’s any strange feeling, so bad will happen!”
“Yes, ladies, I have no evil intent at all”
With this, we’re finally able to finish our preparations The few of us plus Hazuki-chan were finally able to start studying for the end-of-term tests
After about 2 hours of studying and a luxurious meal of pizza, we continued to study It’s rare to have nothing troublesome, and time peacefully passed
“Un? It’s so late already Shouldn’t the study ?”
Before I noticed it, the clock was showing 930pm
“Wow, time sure does fly by fast”
“…We were very focused”
“It’s already pitch black outside”
Once Yuuji said that, everyone put down their pens I ress because Hi methods were very easy If I can continue on like this, I should be able to chase nee-san out back overseas, I suppose
“That should be it for today We should be going”
“You’re right, thank you Minami-chan”
“Ah, un, I should be the one thanking you Hazuki, you should be—Hazuki?”
“Zzzz…”
“Ahaha, looks like she’s tired”
Unknowingly, Hazuki-chan fell asleep on my lap
“Really, Hazuki…sorry Aki Can you help me move her onto the sofa?”
“Ah, okay, I was planning on doing so”
Hazuki-chan was tugging at o even when I carried her to the sofa I won’t be able to go home like this
“Oi, Hazuki, wake up How is Aki going to go ho at him?”
Minami patted Hazuki-chan on the shoulder
“Nu…”
At this htly
“Don’t…go home…”
Hazuki-chan ed harder at my shi+rt
“Hazuki, onee-chan’s going to be angry if you say such stubborn things”
Minami spoke with a heavier tone At this moment, I can see that Minami is a kind and yet strict older sister to Hazuki-chan when it comes to it
“…Onee-chan doesn’t understand…”
“Eh? What?”
“…Onee-chan can often play with baka onii-chan…but Hazuki can only be with baka onii-chan at such a moment…”
“““…”””
She’s all sleepy, which is why she said such things, but the few of us ere aere stunned to actually hear Hazuki-chan’s true thoughts accidentally So Hazuki-chan really admires me that much…
“Eh…Minami, if you’re not bothered, can I stay to study for a while longer?”
“Eh?”
“Yeah Since the pipsqueak said so, Akihisa should stay behind”
“It sure is thus Akihisa, being a popular guy is tough”
“…You're really popular”
Everyone started to make fun ofI’oodwill that can ease my emotions, especially with that out-of-sorts sister ofperverted attacks on me
“Is, is that so…sorry Aki Please accompany Hazuki for a while more”
“Un”
Since Minami allowed me, I should stay behind to study more Besides, there’re some parts of the lesson today that I don’t really understand
“Ah, well…in that case, I should…”
“Eh? Hiirl to go back hoet Yuuji to send you back home”
“But I’m really worried, in many ways…”
“I understand your feelings”
“No, you don’t understand what I’m worried about, Akihisa-kun!”
“???”
For sory
“I’ll send Hi Hideyoshi+ home”
“…I accept”
“I won’t really accept this, but this can’t be helped…”
As we continued to drag on, time continued to fly Cute kids like Hier if they walk back houys before in the Cool Summer Festival, so we have to take note
“Then, I’ll…”
But even so, Hiree It’s not that I don’t understand that she’s worried about Hazuki-chan, but…
“But no matter how much you ask, no means no, Himeji-san”
“But but…”
“No buts There’s a lot of dangerous people outside, so you have to watch out for your own safety and go back home early!”
“Give it up, Hie his mind”
“…Uu…why did it end up like this…”
On hearing Hazuki-chan’s lonely words, kind Himeji-san definitely won’t leave her alone, but it’s very late now, so I’ll take over here
“We’ll be going then Thank you for today, shi+mada”
“I feel bothered for disturbing you for too long too”
“…Thanks”
“Thank you, Minami-chan…”
Including Himeji-san, who looked somewhat stressed out, everyone thanked Minami and headed off to the corridor
“Everyone, see you tomorrow”
My shi+rt was still being tugged at by Hazuki-chan, so I could only remain there and wait for everyone else to leave
“Wait, I’ll send you off”
Minaot up and followed everyone out
“Alright, I should be studying now”
I sat in the living room that felt immediately empty, and reached out for the notes Himeji-san specially made Himeji-san’s words are pretty, and it’s easy to read The notes are really so good that I can grasp the irades will definitely improve
I took the highlighted notes and stuffed their contents into my brains
“Suu…suu…”
A steady breathing sound could be heard at my knees
Sleeping Hazuki-chan feels very warm, and it feels even more comfy with the air-con switched on in the room No, it’s not because of the war over me like thisabout exa about all these recently, which made me feel that such a time is really precious
I held onto thesheet and continued to memorize in a dazed manner, and time passed by just like that
“Sorry for that, Aki, troubling you like that”
Minami, who sent everyone off, soon came back
“Uun, I don’t find it troublesome”
“…Thank you”
After thanking ently patted Hazuki-chan on the head
“Nyuu…”
“This kid’s really…”
Minami sat beside me and patted Hazuki-chan’s head, and Hazuki-chan, as lying on , seemed to twitch due to itchiness
“Minami and Hazuki-chan are really close”
“Yeah It’s not bad”
“Looking at you two, I really want to smile”
“What are you saying? Don't you have good relations with your sister, Aki?”
“Eh? Since when! I’ve been watched by her, and everything fa at ood about it at all!”
“But didn’t you sister say ‘I love Aki-kun the most’?”
“…Please forget about that”
“Uu, I feel that she was joking at the last bit”
“Of course she is!”
Or rather, I’ll be really bothered if she wasn’t joking
““…””
As we looked at Hazuki-chan’s sleeping face, Minami and I went silent
“Well, Aki, that…”
“Nn? What is it?”
“That doll in my room…”
“Ahh, are you talking about the large fox doll in the room?”
“Un, that fox doll—Aki bought it for ht?”
Nn?
Speaking of which, Hazuki-chan back then said that she wanted to buy the doll for her older sister, and Hazuki-chan’s sister is Minami…
“I see So I helped Hazuki-chan buy the doll for Minami”
“Eh? Don’t tell me you didn’t even realize this?”
Minaain
How rude It’s not that I didn’t notice it I just didn’t think of it
“Well, this can’t be helped since Aki’s like that”
“Mina me now?”
“Yeah, because you’re an idiot, Aki It can’t be helped”
“Mina me now?”
There’s no need to deliberately pick on it
“After the Cool Summer Festival, I wondered how Hazuki knew about Aki, so I asked Hazuki about everything”
“Ahh, is that so? Speaking of which, I don’t think we told you about that”
It’s no wonder she would be wondering how her little sister who’s in primary school would know about her classmate
“After hearing Hazuki explain it, I felt…really happy”
“This is to be expected You should be happy after knowing that your sister worked so hard to cheer you up”
“…”
I’ sister
“Haa…really, you’re a blockhead”
Minahed hard and said this to me
Whether it’s the brain, looks or lifestyle, it looks like I have an inexplicable link to the word ‘lousy’
“You saw that doll when you looked into ht?”
“Ah, un I only saw the large doll holding onto a photo fra’
“That photo frame…”
“Un”
“Don’t you want to knohose photo I put on it?”
“Eh?”
What’s with this mysterious conversation? I suppose the photo fraave her the doll, or a fa like that, isn’t it? If not, it should be the photo of someone Minami likes—
“Nyuu!”
““HYAAA!!””
At this mos Tha, that scared me!
“Nyuu…”
And Hazuki-chan leaned back down again Did, did she really fall asleep?
“A, ahaha…that scared me”
“Ye, yeah Me too”
During this tih aardly
To change this strange at between us, I suppose I should look for so else to talk about Let me see…
“Ah, Hazuki-chan let go of my shi+rt when she moved”
“Eh? Ah, really”
Most likely, she let go when she got up That’s good
“I suppose it’s about tio”
I carried Hazuki-chan and laid her down on the sofa It hasn't been long since Yuuji and the rest left, so if I walk faster, I should be able to catch up to those guys
“Really…then see you tomorrow”
“Un”
I putand reached out for the door handle of the living room
Just when I was about to open the door and got ready to step out of the living room,
“…Aki”
“Nn?”
“…You can go over to my room…to look at that photo…”
Minami said to me
“U, un…”
With such a ridiculous pressure, I could only nod my head
Mina much after that and silently turned her head away
“I, I’ll be going then…”
After closing the living room door, I walked towards the corridor
“…The photo in Minami’s room…”
Since she said so, I can’t go ho a look at it
Fro fox doll is holding onto the photo of the person Minami admires, and there’s a chance—it’s my photo
“…(Gulp)”
I reached out for Minami’s door with my sweaty and tense hand and peeked into the room I checked the photo in that frame I then put on my shoes and opened the corridor door to leave Minami’s house
Is that so…so Minami—
“A, Aki should have seen it, right? That photo…if he sees it, even an idiot should be able to understand…in that case, I can finally…”
“Nyuu…”
“Ah, Hazuki? You’re awake?”
“I’m awake…”
“Since you’re awake, change into your pajao to sleep If you feel lonely, onee-chan will sleep with you”
“No…Hazuki borrowed a photo from onee-chan’s room, so Hazuki won’t feel lonely…”
“Really? It’s good that you won’t…eh? Wait, photo? The photo from my room?”
“Hazuki went over to borrow baka onii-chan’s photo from onee-chan’s room, so Hazuki won’t feel lonely…”
“Eehh? The, then, the photo in my room is…”
“Hazuki replaced it with the Mr Ape that’s used as the theme for the arts lesson at school…”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”
—So Minami likes apes…well, how to put it it really shocked me in many ways…
Being co words of my classmate, I couldn’t help but hasten my speed Less than 5in front ofway?
“Ex, excuseat Minami’s house…”
“Don’t worry, you didn’t forget anything I checked thoroughly before we left shi+mada’s house”
“Uu…no, well…I have soo to…”
“It’s too late now Better go tomorrow”
“Hau…the, then, I have so I have to say to Minami”
“…That’s enough already, Hi your time now”
“B, but…”
“No buts That sound caht? Your parents should be worried about their daughter who has been back late for 2 days, right?”
“I, I sent a o back!”
“It’s not that I don’t understand your feelings Of course I want to let you go back there if I could…”
I ran over to the duo who see
“What are you talking about, Yuuji?”
“Kya!? A, Akihisa-kun!”
“Oh, Akihisa, you’re rather fast”
“Yeah Hazuki-chan woke up soon after you guys left”
But I never expected that Yuuji and the rest hadn’t go far
“Oh yeah, ere you two talking about?”
“Well…what do you think it is, Himeji?”
“We, well…”
Hi that’s hard to talk about?
“Forget about that Akihisa-kun, what did you talk about with Minami-chan alone?”
“Eh?”
The unexpected question ca me to make a weird sound
I, I can’t say it! I really can’t tell everyone about that shocking secret thing about Minami…
“Wha, what happened?”
“Eh, erm, about this…”
Himeji-san continued to stare into my eyes, and it looked like any lies I try to make wouldn’t escape her eyes
“Is it related…to someone she likes?”
“Ugh!”
I let out a surprised sound as she guessed correctly Himeji-san, your sixth sense today seems to be really sharp
“Can you please…tell me exactly what happened?”
“Ugh…”
Himeji-san’s expectant eyes really hurt me
But no matter what she says, I can’t do it Besides…how can I say that a girl in my class likes apes…
“Akihisa-kun…”
“Sorry…Himeji-san, I can’t say it…”
“Is that so…”
Himeji-san dejectedly lowered her head
If possible, I really want to say it, but Minami’s too direct to say that she loves apes I won’t talk about how people in this world will think, but no matter what, I can’t just reveal Minami’s secrets to others
Just when I was thinking about that, it see, and soon lifted her head with a certain amount of determination
“Akihisa-kun!”
“Ah…yes!”
“I understand Minas!”
“What are you saying?”
How can you understand such things?
“But I hope you listen to s!”
“Ho, how can you do this! I, I’ll be troubled if you suddenly say that!”
Wha, what should I do…if Himeji-san suddenly tells me that ‘I understand that Minaorillas are better’, that will definitely beof which, why are these two people talking about such things? No matter how much they ask me, I can only introduce humans to them!
“I know you’ll be really bothered, but I hope that you can seriously consider this!”
“Se, seriously…?”
I have no idea what’s so good about such things, but since Himeji-san said so, I can’t just leave it alone In that case, I have to seriously listen to her
“Oi, Hiuy’s obviously thinking about sos now”
“Eh?”
“If it’s japanese apes, I should be able to introduce soorillas are on the entertainether…”
“Akihisa-kun…why e and say such things…”
“You’re just going to wear out your brain cells no matter how you think Oi, Akihisa, wake up (knocks)!”
GACK! What did I do?
“Sorry, e talking about?”
“Don’t worry You don’t have to think about it Oh yeah, Himeji Which side of this junction is your house at?”
“Ah, yes…ht”
“The right side? The same direction as Akihisa then”
“Oh ya, Yuuji’s house on the other side”
“That’s right, so I’ll hand the duty of sending Himeji home to you Don’t think you can attack people in the ht just because no one is around”
“Understood I’ll try my best to endure”
“Oi, isn’t that answer kinda inappropriate…”
“I, I’ll endure too!”
“Himeji! You want to attack Akihisa too!?”
Yuuji continued to stare at both of us with a look of disbelief
“Oh well, whatever No ah to snark back at you two idiots”
““?””
“Then, see you tomorrow”
“Un, see you tomorrow”
“Thank you, Sakamoto-kun”
As aved goodbye to Yuuji at the cross-junction, Himeji-san and I walked side by side with each other as ent home
Maybe it’s because Yuuji, who’s always being so noisy, isn’t around, but the chirping all around became extremely clear
“Oh yeah, is your house in this direction, Himeji-san?”
“Yes My house is actually rather close to yours, Akihisa-kun We even studied in the same primary school”
“Is that so? That’s true If our pri rather near each other”
Recently, because of the assembly, there are a lot less chances, but there were about 3 primary schools nearby Himeji-san and I studied at Mutsuki Primary school
It sure was memorable It’s been over 5 years since then…
“It’s really a rare chance to walk together with Akihisa-kun slowly”
“Eh? Really?”
“Yeah Akihisa-kun’s always surrounded by so many people”
“Ahaha It’s really a to hear Himeji-san say that I’m really popular”
Actually, I was being teased by those guys
“Not at all Akihisa-kun’s always been popular There was a Valentine’s Day in primary school I wonder if you remember it?”
“Valentine’s Day in primary school?”
“Yes Alave Akihisa-kun chocolates Frost the girls”
“Is that so? I didn’t know…I thought Valentine Day’s chocolates were nothing s…”
How did it end up like that…was I always just eating them…?
“Akihisa-kun’s been so dull since then”
“Well, I was still young, so I didn’t understand then”
“Akihisa-kun, your use of japanese is wrong It’s like you’re not dull now”
“Eh? Ah, un, sorry”
I’ll take note of those things I didn’t think through before That’s what I actually wanted to say…
“But speaking of which, I’irls…I wouldn’t be wondering if ere talking about how Hiuys now”
“Well, I can’t say that I became skinnier, but I was really fat in prihed at by the boys I wasn’t popular at all”
Hirumbled
“But don’t people norirls they like?”
“I suppose it’s not that they didn’t like me…and actually, they didn’t tease me to an extent I remember they removed the ‘hime’ in ‘Himeji Mizuki’ to call me ‘plain lover’[1] The boy as the leader didn’t like it, and everyone didn’t call ht?”
Himeji-san smiled as she said to me
Is that so? I don’t remember as the leader of the class, and of course, I don’t remember that
“It’s just that I was still bothered by the nicknaave me after that”
“The nickname after that…’Yuki-chan’?”
I searched ue memory and recalled this nickname But…why call Himeji-san ‘Yuki-chan’? I always called her ‘Mizuki-chan’, so I don’t really kno the ‘Yuki-chan’ nickname came about
“Yes, it’s the ‘yuki (snow)’ from ‘yukidaroma (snowman)”
“Ah, so the ‘Yuki’ came from snowman That’s rather cute”
“It’s cute now that I think about it…but I was really bothered back then”
“Eh? Why would you have been?”
“Wouldn’t anyone associate ‘snowman’ hite and fat?”
“Eh? Is that the reason why you were called Yuki-chan?”
“Ah, now I guess it’s just the impression people have of me that created this nickname But I was really bothered”
Himeji-san waved her hand in a casual manner
She’s saying it really casually now, but she must have been really bothered by such a nicknaet about how it actually caine how the ‘Yuki-chan’ nickname came about
“So I’m still rather bothered abouthi-calories food like pizza or biscuits”
“Is that so? I feel that you don’t have to be bothered about it”
OR rather, Himeji-san’s curves are way too perfect
“This can’t do I get fat easily”
…If it’s just a certain point, such a figure will irls like Minami
“But Akihisa-kun, you’re different from me You need lots of nutrition”
“Don’t worry I can’t say if it’s ularly ever since nee-san came back”
I even sacrificed my precious treasures
“Really, how can you say such things…do you actually hate your sister, Akihisa-kun?”
“Hate? Uu…I never actually thought of such a question before”
Co back, and showing offphotos in front of everyone, and even nagging away about exa And she will even pull all sorts of weird pranks on me…
“I suppose, Akihisa-kun, your sister must be worried about you, and she definitely likes you If not, she wouldn’t be asking everyone about Akihisa-kun’s condition at school”
“Nononono There’s a reason why she would ask that…”
Himeji-san’s pure heart seemed to view nee-san’s impish attitude in a completely different manner Himeji-san, don’t be fooled by that de such checks to deduct points from me
Just when I was about to explain everything to her, Himeji-san suddenly pointed at a corner
“My house’s over there You can just leaveme all the way here”
“H”
Himeji-san bowed at me, and I bowed back at her
“See you at school tomorrow”
“Nn, see you tomorrow”
After saying that, Hi feet
But after a few steps, she turned around as if she suddenly thought of so
“I feel that you should notice the feelings of the people around you, Akihisa-kun Like your sister, Minami…and me…”
“Heh? What does that mean?”
“Fufu I’ive you any more hints”
Hiave a smile and immediately ran off to her house after that
Speaking of which, what’s the significance of the three people she just mentioned? Nee-san, Himeji-san, Minami…
“And Toshi+mitsu Kubo”
“What, why is there a co mentioned!? Is it the work of the devil inside me?
“The four people mentioned her