“Mi, Mika?!”
“Yup yup, Kamo onee~!”
“…?!”
When Wakamo onee mentioned ‘late evening,’ it referred to a time that was perhaps a bit too late, considering the sun had already set long ago and it was officially nighttime.
I was debating how far to go to meet her, whether to just text her my address, but I ended up walking to the nearby intersection, where I met my onee. As soon as she saw me, she pushed her mask aside and shouted my name in surprise.
She figured out on her own that I’ve gotten younger, but seeing me in person seemed hard to believe.
As I carefully examined Wakamo onee’s unexpectedly innocent face revealed beyond the mask, I noticed a weary look in her eyes.
She’s been really going through a lot, that one. It’s hard not to feel sympathy knowing how incredibly tough the daily grind is for the students at SRT Special Academy.
…Now that I think about it, my onee is living her life in clothes that don’t fit her, yet she’s always working hard, which is pretty cool, right? Honestly, I thought she might give up midway… Hmm.
Thinking that made her suddenly look really admirable. I guess she could use a little praise after all.
“Onee, here. Lean down a bit!”
“Y-yes? W-well, I’ll do my best…”
It was a somewhat sudden request, but Wakamo onee complied more willingly than I expected. At this point, it feels like she’s almost obligated to follow whatever I say.
“You’ve worked so hard until this late, onee. Your sense of responsibility and passion is truly commendable. Heueng.”
“Fufu, Mika-sama, you’re being too kind. But hearing your compliments makes my heart race uncontrollably, and I just don’t know what to do…”
“Ahaha. Our onee really knows how to say nice things too. Anyway, this is in the spirit of praise… pat pat!”
“…Huh?!”
I reached out and pulled Wakamo onee into my embrace and started patting her head. I heard the sound of her tail wagging wildly.
Ah. It’s just so cute I could go insane…
It’s a real struggle to suppress the urge to mess up that soft hair, but I can always scratch her ears to my heart’s content…
“Onee, is life at SRT treating you well? I want to ask if you like it, but honestly, I don’t think you do… Hmm.”
After a long moment of pat pat time, I finally brought up the question I wanted to ask.
“Yes, I’ve gotten used to it now, so I suppose you could say I’m quite at ease. Fufu. And whether or not I like it… I don’t think that matters too much. After all, this is all just a form of atonement for me, Kosaka Wakamo, letting my destructive instincts run rampant without a proper place to go…”
Then Wakamo onee awkwardly wrapped her arm around my waist and started sharing her thoughts with me.
“Yes, taking responsibility is naturally a tough road. Even if I don’t particularly like it, I wouldn’t say I have even the slightest desire to avoid it. So while I appreciate your concern, I kindly request that you focus your energy on things that are more important for you, Mika-sama.”
“Heueng. But if you say that, it opens up the discussion of my responsibility towards you… In that case, I doubt anything could be more important than this, right? But if you say that, then I won’t worry. Instead,”
smack.
I cut off my words there, placed my lips against her forehead, then smiled…
“This deserves double the praise, right? Hehe. I’ll always support our Kamo onee from now on☆”
This time, I couldn’t help but mess up Wakamo onee’s hair with my fingertips. I just couldn’t resist that urge.
Still, even then, she didn’t show any signs of discontent and instead rubbed her tail against my arm. How could I not love such cuteness?
…But if this was the case, wouldn’t it have been better to start this off more properly? Regardless, there would always be a lingering sense of regret about starting this relationship while drinking.
Hmm. I guess I’ll have to think of a way to delete that memory later. It’s not because I’m embarrassed by the drunk mess I made, but because I hope my relationship with Wakamo onee can develop more healthily… Yup.
“Speaking of which, Onee, it’s pretty late… Are you going to stay over at my house? Actually, I’ve already picked out a pajama for you, so don’t even think about turning me down!”
“Well… Of course, if Mika-sama insists, I would be more than happy to stay for the night. However, since there are others here, I do worry that my presence might be a burden…”
“Oh come on… Onee, you always say unnecessary things. They’re all great onees, so you should fit right in. By the way, I wonder if you ate dinner?”
“No, unfortunately, the number of the Helmet Gang I had to deal with today was quite something, so there wasn’t time…”
“Ahaha, it might be a good thing, actually. I saved a bit for you too. When we go in, let’s heat it up and eat together!”
“Yes, yes… However, Mika-sama.”
“Hmm?”
“If you keep doing this, when will we leave…?”
Wakamo onee pointed at my hand that was still stubbornly lingering above her head with an awkward smile.
The answer to that was obvious.
“When I feel like it☆”
Wakamo onee, who received my sparkling smile head-on, nodded in agreement, as if she had no choice but to comply.
*
So how much time passed? When I led Wakamo onee back home, everyone was surprisingly engaged in cheerful conversation, looking like they were getting along better than I expected. Akko onee seemed a bit out of place, but Hanako onee was quietly looking out for her…
“Hehehe… Just like last time, I’m really intrigued by Akko’s uniform design. I might start to idolize it a little.”
“…No matter how much I think about it, hearing you say you idolize me doesn’t inspire any good feelings at all.”
“Hmm… In a way, this is about respect for each other as we walk different paths as rivals. It’s about the visible and the invisible…”
“W-what are you trying to say? I have a feeling I almost get it, but I’m wearing my patches properly?!”
“Yes. That’s exactly the point I was getting at, Akko. I may not be showing a lot of skin in my uniform, but honestly, I’m not falling behind compared to you. Yes, I’m fully enjoying that kind of freedom ‘in my own way.’ I think we should consider a bit more seriously the paths we’re pursuing…”
“…W-what?! No, did you really just go there…? You’re banned from approaching our Head!”
“Fufu♡”
It wasn’t really caring but rather teasing, but then again, I guess it wouldn’t feel too lonely, so it’s fair to say she was looking out for her…
…Wait a minute. I had a faint suspicion about Hanako onee not wearing a bra, but could it be that she’s truly going braless?
I’m dizzy, so dizzy, seriously. Ugh.
Anyhow, as I went to grab the dinner I had prepared with Wakamo onee, Luna onee immediately stepped up to heat the food.
The menu was Lobster Thermidor.
With Luna onee, Nagisa onee, and me, who was kneeling on a chair and helping with the cooking, we ended up preparing eight servings under Luna onee’s lead.
After the first dinner, we finished off my remaining half-serving and Wakamo onee’s one full serving a bit late when we reheated it.
But hey, Lobster Thermidor does have alcohol in it, and the problem isn’t just obtaining the alcohol… I’ve heard that I can’t even handle a half-glass, being the existence known as the ultimate alcohol lightweight, which also meant I had to brainstorm an alternative recipe with Fuka onee, and why did they have to bring that up in front of me?
I hate Luna onee.
Even with that said, I won’t get drunk just from the alcohol in the food… No way, right?
…But then, does that mean I can forget about having a romantic dinner with a glass of wine on the side?
What should I even live for now?
“Well then, excuse us while we wash up first♪”
“No, you don’t need to feel any shame about it… But no touching each other, you two.”
“This sounds like a clear command to not make it obvious, Noah.”
“No, just no touching. There are plenty of people to wash…”
“Hey, what if Mika-chan washed with us?”
…Oh, that actually sounds a little tempting. Yup!
“Excuse me. Mika-san is mine, so please don’t even think about it, Noah.”
“Fufu. Of course, if the homeowner says so, I’ll have to comply.”
Ah, my possessive Nagisa onee is the best…
“Hmm. Isn’t it okay to do something naughty sometimes, Mika? Especially when it’s just the two of us…”
Whoa—oh. Luna onee’s sudden betrayal also sounds good…
“Mika… that, wish card.”
“Ah.”
Looks like this is Hina onee’s victory, finally unleashing the cheat card!
