Tsuki Tsuki Vol 1 Chapter 2

Chapter 02: Welcome back, Moon

She hated that smile.

—Even now, on the verge of tears, the girl was smiling.

How many times she’s continued to smile while holding back the tears.

The girl never cried in front of others. When she cried, it was always when she was alone.

While crying, she recited.

Hey God, are you watching me?

There was no one to answer her prayer. Still, the girl continued to pray. She continued to believe. She continued to recite.

—That’s why, I won’t cry anymore.

Aww, why wouldn’t anyone look at the girl.

I wanted to protect her. I didn’t want to see her that sad again.

—That was a dream. A cloudy dream that faded away as soon as I woke up. When I got up and noticed that I had my fists clenched, I had already forgotten about it.
I welcomed the morning with a headache. Why were my cheeks wet? I didn’t know why anymore.

Delicious. A taste that stimulated your appetite. An exquisite flavour with simple seasoning, yet remained in your mouth without making you sick of it.

“…Uhm, Shinobu-san, how does it taste?”

I would have liked to honestly say it was good, but I couldn’t do that. Luna-san was a swindler. I couldn’t be fooled by a swindler. I wouldn’t be fooled!

I gave Luna-san my empty bowl.

Full of regret I looked down at the table.

—Today was Saturday. The day I eat lunch at home.

But it sure was a surprise. Until just recently, Luna-san was scared of the gas oven and was talking to the refrigerator or microwave, but she now had improved a lot.

“Hey, she specially made it for you, so at least say it’s delicious.”

By the way, beside me Nazuna was happily stuffing herself with a sandwich.

“Really. Then I’ll also give my best by eating them.”

“…Shinobu, listen.”

“You know, Luna-chan isn’t showing it, but she burned herself a few times when she cooked this.”

“Yes. Because a certain someone said ‘I really want to eat sandwiches. I’m really craving for some soup!’ Luna-chan was really enthusiastic….”

My mother lightly poked my forehead, then slipped back into her chair.

She must have seen me and my mother. Luna-san asked that with her head tilted when she brought my refill of the soup. I just nodded vaguely and sneaked a peek at Luna-san’s hand. Like my mother had said, she had burns. Her slender long fingers were covered in bandages.

Despite that she still gave it her best…

Luna-san handed me the refilled bowl with a smile.

I mumbled silently while looking the other way.

She replied happily. Intrigued I looked back. Luna-san’s cheek were slightly red and accompanied by a big smile. For a moment, I was captured by that smile, so I averted my gaze in a rush.

My mother had bent over again and was looking happily at my face with a grin. She then poked my cheeks, teasing me.

“Oh my, how cheeky. That’s the reason you have so few friends.”

“…Wh- What’s that out of the blue, Mum. Don’t slander me without any proof.”

Stabbing my heart with a knife, my mother said wearily.

“Stop it, Mum. I don’t want to hear such a sad story now.”

Aw, damn. Something sparkled in my eyes…

“E- Ehm, Shinobu-san is not popular with girls?”

Towards Luna-san’s question, my mother

cruelly confirmed.

Luna-san said such a wonderful thing, but my mother blinked and said.

Hearing my mother’s word, Luna-san frowned.

I didn’t know what was going on, but for a change, Luna-san got angry.

Nazuna was still focused on her sandwich.

“The cat~ is strong~ and cool~”

After being ordered by our mother to wash the dishes, Nazuna and I were standing in the kitchen like this, but…. I was bothered by something.

First I had a bitter smile when I imagined Luna-san having a hard time with the vacuum cleaner, but I suddenly realised:

Not good. I left Nazuna, who was giving it her best at washing the dishes, and moved to the dining room by crawling under the table for no reason. Then I opened the accordion curtain silently and peeped into the living room.

“…Uh- Uhm, why are you not moving? Did I do something to offend you? I beg you, please move. I really need to clean. So… please!”

….Luna-sensei, you haven’t plugged it into the electrical outlet. Without that, the vacuum cleaner “Scorpion Itou” won’t move. Please notice that already.

Aw, damn it.

It’s not like I wanted to see Luna-san desperately apologising “I am sorry, I am sorry.” for having her hair sucked by the vacuum cleaner.

She was really messed around by “Scorpion Itou”, which was loudly causing havoc.

Because it was quite an expensive vacuum cleaner, it had incredible suction power. It completely ignored Luna-san, who was pulling on the hose with an apologetic voice crying “P- Please save me~”, and strongly sucked on her T-shirt. Her T-short rolled up more and more, and her breasts started to be exposed to my view.

Her shirt got rolled up even more and her wonderful underboobs became visible.

Her T-shirt, rolled up steadily towards the center of her chest, which excited me because it was going to reveal everything. That’s wasn’t all. Luna-san’s desperate action of resistance made her breasts sway around. For a while Luna-san was fighting like that, but then succeeded in shutting down the vacuum cleaner by chance. Luna-san let out a big sigh of relief and grabbed the vacuum cleaner. She had a strangely serious expression and was exerting quite a lot of force into the hand that was holding the vacuum cleaner. After that she cleaned the living room with cautious movements and a stiff expression, while talking to the vacuum cleaner from time to time.

“Wawah! Brother is gone! But he was beside me just before!”

Luna-san gave me a questioning look, but smiled soon enough, resumed vacuuming and moved from the living room to the hallway.

I could hear Nazuna’s sad voice, so I stood up, combed back my hair with both my hands and raised my collar. I opened the curtain in a flash and shouted.

I just wanted to fool around a bit, but

Nazuna had turned around on my words and was clapping her hands in awe for some reason.

“Shinomun! Shinomun!”

Hm, might as well continue for a bit.

“I’ll also help!”

Since I ditched her before, I had planned to do the rest myself….Oh well, she seemed to enjoy it.

“Even I know how to use a kitchen-knife, okay?”

“I… I’m still practicing!”

“Yop.”

“Wah, Shinomun, so cool. Just like a blood-swing.”

“Hah! Hah!”

“B- Brother, so cool! But it’s dangerous.”

Nazuna had forgotten about Shinomun and was making a worried expression. I quickly stopped my hand, when

Mh? Cut? Having a nasty feeling, I looked down. I had cut myself. Red blood was gushing out from my wrist with a *spurt*.

There was a pain, but I just had a shallow cut in my skin. It didn’t cut a nerve or muscle. It looked worse than it was. Just a light wound. The bleeding should stop soon too.

“Uwaaaa! B- Brother’s going to dieeee!”

I announced to the crying Nazuna, but probably out of anxiety she ran out shouting “Muuum~~!”. I ignored Nazuna and pressed on my wrist to stop the blood…. whereupon suddenly an “Awawa” and footsteps drew closer to me.

A pale Luna-san and a *hichic* crying Nazuna came rushing in from the living room.

“T- To help you…s- since you’re dying….”

“Geez! It IS a big deal! Blood is coming out! A catastrophe!”

“You hurt yourself, Shinobu-san?”

“C- Ca- Catastrophe!”

“….Mm. *kiss*”

The sweet sensation of her soft lips made my heart skip a few beats.

“It is not dirty!”

“It’s not that deep, so no worries.”

Luna-san said, while looking up at me, her lips pressed against my wrist.

“Mm. Mm.”

Because Luna-san was quite close to me, her soft, blonde hair grazed my body and there was even a sweet fragrance. Furthermore her breath was tickling my chest and there was an indescribable sensation from her warm lips and tongue.

Luna-san continued licking me with a serious expression….It was quite erotic.

Upon becoming aware of it, it was too late. The moment Luna-san brushed away her hair that stuck to her face with her left hand and a “Mm”, my heart went into a panic with “Holy cow!”.

I forcefully pulled my arm back and looked at my wrist. The bleeding had stopped completely.

I stretched out my arm.

“Honestly, be more careful, Brother.”

….For some reason, I got all shy and automatically looked aside.

I faced towards the voice.

Luna-san softly touched my cheek with her right hand.

“Sorry.”

Her gentle smile was just so beautiful that I got captured inadvertently.

—-Nostalgia. Suddenly I was befallen by such a mysterious emotion.

Have I met Luna-san before….?

A sharp pain went through my head.

“Shinobu-san? Are you okay? Does your hand hurt?”

I covered my face with my left hand and waited for the pain to subside.

“…Are you really okay?”

….Geez. I made a big sigh in my mind.

While I watched Luna-san putting a bandage on my wound, I wondered.

I wanted to know. If I had forgotten, I wanted to remember.

The next day, I was sitting on the sofa in the living room, staring blankly at the ceiling. Since then, I’d tried to remember Luna-san, but it was no good at all. I also asked her herself “Have we met before?”, but she just brushed it away with a “It is a secret” and a vague smile.

Did we exchange a marriage vow in our childhood? Mhm~ But then it would be strange for Luna-san to call herself my “slave”….

“Mmmuh~ Shinomun~ Full moon~”

“Shinobu-san.”

“Mh? Ah, Luna-san.”

“What’s up? Need something?”

A favour? How rare. It was the first time Luna-san said something like this.

“Yes.”

“No, we have a sofa, so sit on that?”

U- Uhm. Sure, I tapped the sofa there, but I didn’t really mean right besides me.

Luna-san was staring at me intently while smiling.

“Shinobu-san, my favour…”

“U- Uhm, Shinobu-san. You call me ‘Luna-san’, right?”

“I want you, w- well….I want you to call me ‘Luna’.”

“Noo~”

“Nah, Shinomun is embarrassed.”

“Forcing the already embarrassed me to say such a thing—-Luna-san, you perv!”

“…I do not mind being a perv. Please call me that.”

That reaction was outside of my expectations.

“There is no point in that~ Why will you not do it?”

I surlily replied, since I was embarrassed.

Luna-san—No, I was going to call her Luna in my mind—- Luna’s eyes got teary and she let out a sad “Funyuu”.

“Hey, what are you teasing Luna-chan for?”

“You can at least call her by her name.”

No one called for her, so I shooed her away with a *hushhush*. Probably angry from being called an “idiot” my mother drove her knee into my face. It really hurt.

I had suffered enough already today. I had no choice but to obey.

“…If you don’t shut up, I’ll treat your arm as a crab and break it.”

“Luna-chan, would you go with Shinobu? If I let that idiot go alone, he’ll just buy pointless stuff. So please keep an eye on him.”

Luna gave me a quick glance.

“Huh. You think you can just order me around?”

“You want the great me to be a guide? This noble and titled me? Honestly, you sure don’t see my value…Oh well, I have some time to spare anyway. Then let us proceed with haste. Go prepare at once. Or do you plan to make me wait?”

“Oh? You could tell? How was it?”

“Fufu. Don’t praise me so much. Okay, Luna! Prepare for departure at once! Snacks will be up to 300 yen!”

Well it was a hilarious scene.

“I wonder why?”

I gave my mother a “Huh`” and tilted my head. Doing that made my mother let out a big sigh.

“S.e.n.s.i.b.l.e~”

“Mh? What?”

“…Relieved?”

“Until recently, you thought of Luna-chan as a swindler, right?”

“So stupid. Even if she were to swindle someone like you, there wouldn’t be any great money to gain from it.”

I was making excuses. My mother assured me resolute.

“….What makes you think that?”

“I guess it’s because I have seen lots of different people so far.”

“Yeah. Through your dad’s work, I have met a lot of people. I have met offenders and those that were involved in crimes. I guess that’s why I can tell somehow. Luna-chan is a good girl. She won’t do anything bad.”

“That’s why I’m leaving that to you. She isn’t a bad girl, but somehow she seems to have something going on. Besides. you don’t find a girl that’s bad with machines very often. I’m sure she has her reasons. So you go and hear her out.”

When I asked that, my mother teasingly poked my cheek and said.

Not like I hadn’t noticed. Her soft smile appeared in my head.

“…I get it.”

“But I wonder if we can really trust your evaluation, Mum.”

“Don’t worry. I have an eye for people.”

When I shook my head, my mother looked to the side and then

She said softly.

“You’re getting red.”

Geez. she was only ever praising me when I wasn’t expecting it.

“Shinobu-san, Tomoe-san, your faces are red…What happened?”
My mother said nothing and just went back to her own room. I just said “Let’s go” and headed for the front door.

Turning around. Turning around. Turning around.

All the glances were directed at Luna, who was walking one step behind me.

Even without that getup, Luna was attracting people. She was a walking gallery. People’s gazes filled with jealousy were piercing me, so I felt annoyed, but…there was something else bothering me more. I turned around and looked at Luna, one step behind me.

She must had thought I was tired. She looked at the bag from the supermarket hanging on my arm, then extended her right hand. But carrying the bag was my job, since I wan’t doing any cooking. I stopped Luna’s extending hand and asked about what was bothering me.

For some reason Luna had been walking one step behind me without ever lining up besides me.

“Come on.”

She was quite funny. Walking with that in mind, a park appeared in my vision. It was the Midorikawa Park. Just like the name said, it had greenery (midori) and a river (kawa). It was a famous dating spot.

I thought Luna must have been tired too from walking around. With the idea of taking a break, I pointed towards the park. Luna smiling, nodded with a “Yes”. For some reason, she seemed a bit happy.

Curious about if something sad had happened, I turned around. A little girl was crying with her mouth wide open while hugging her bear plush toy.

“Honestly, stop being so wilful. We’re going home.”

When the girl was shaking her head with a “No, no”, the mother frowned.

She turned around and slowly walked away, leaving the girl behind.

“Ah”

“Fueeh”

“Mummy, it hurts.”

The mother looked at her daughter and rushed to her side. With an “Are you okay?” she hugged her. The girl cried for a while, but the patting of her mother must had calmed her, as she stopped crying and clung to her mother.

“I am glad”

But her eyes looking at the girl were somewhat envious.

Suddenly I remembered my mother’s words.

“Eh? Ah, yes. Somehow, I got worried.”

….After a short silence,

“Come again?”

“You have parents too, right? Don’t you need to contact them?”

“No, I don’t think it’s okay at all. Aren’t your parents worried?”

“If they were worried… I would…. be really happy….”

“…I was…abandoned… by my mother.”

“But I do not remember it clearly, since I was still small back then.”

Just for a moment she looked down, bit her lip and clenched her fist tightly, then she raised her head and forced a smile. Her eyes were withholding something. Her tightly-shut mouth. Her shaking fists.

Upon seeing that smile, my chest tightened and started to hurt.

Still, I had an intuition.

I extended my hand and grabbed Luna’s left hand, when—-

I was surprised. For a moment I didn’t understand what had happened.

Luna had repelled my extended hand. But what I was even more surprised about was,

She held her left hand against her chest and extended her right one.

Without saying anything I once again extended my hand and grabbed Luna’s left hand at the wrist. Luna showed signs of uneasiness, but said nothing and just hanged her head. She must have given up.

Silently I took Luna’s left hand. It had small and tender fingers. A soft touch and a warm body temperature. But when I moved my glance from the back of the hand to her palm, I clenched my teeth.

She must have thought I would hate such a hand.

“U- Uhm, I am sorry.”

“Let’s go.”

“Sh- Shinobu-san?”

“Your hand is warm.”

There were benches set up near the river and couples were happily chatting on them. We also sat down on a bench and watched the transparent, sparkling river for a while.

I slowly started speaking to Luna, who had remained slumpedand silent.

Luna raised her head and I continued.

“…I wonder about that.”

“If I did that… If I cried… would I not be causing trouble?”

—-I was abandoned by my mother.

Ah, I see. She wasn’t allowed to cry. No one helped her even if she cried. No one comforted her even if she cried.

Was she scolded when she cried? Was she yelled at when she cried? Was she hit when she cried?

“None of us would think of it as trouble.”

“So, just tell us if something happened. All I may be able to do for you is listen….But if you talk to me, I might be able to help you.”

Luna asked shyly.

“It’s okay.”

I was bad at expressing my feelings. I didn’t know what to say.

Upon that, Luna bit her lip, then looked down and grabbed my sleeve firmly with her left hand and with trembling shoulders. Her left hand was shaking.
Until her trembling stopped, I kept patting her head.

Weak in the knees. In front of the front door. I hesitated to open the door.

The stupid me couldn’t think of any comforting words, so I repeated lame jokes, but I couldn’t make Luna smile.

“Aw.”

When I turned around, Luna stared at my right hand with regret, having let go of her hand.

In my left hand was the supermarket bag, so there was nothing I could do.

“We’re home, imbeciles!”

For now I put down the bag, took off my shoes and went inside. Then I heard some quiet footsteps coming closer. Those light footsteps, that made you wonder if someone was trying to hide their presence, surely belonged to my mother.

As expected, it was my mother. As I stood in the hallway, my mother pushed me aside and went to the front door.

Maybe she’d just gotten home from club activities, but Nazuna was still in her school uniform when she showed her face. Following my mother, she slipped under my arm heading towards the front door. Then

“Welcome back, Luna-san!”

“How was it? Did that idiot do a proper job of showing you around?”

Completely ignoring me, my mother and Nazuna were focused on Luna.

it suddenly happened.

She must have been enduring it.

She was crying big fat tears without a sound.

—It will not cause trouble?

Ah, I see.

The moment I said that Luna started to sob.

—Welcome back. Luna was just happy about these words.

Welcome back. Words saying ‘It’s alright for you to stay here’. Words acknowledging you. Gentle words. They must have broken something inside her.

I once again said it clearly, out loud.

A shaking voice.

Luna was covering her face with both hands and was trying her best, to form a smile. But it was in vain. There’s no way we would accept that.

My mother put Luna’s head onto her chest.

My mother didn’t ask if anything had happened. She just repeated “It’s okay” and patted Luna’s head. Over and over again. To convey her feelings.

Luna mumbled quietly.

My mother nodded slowly.

I’ll protect her. I want to make her smile and see her smile.

A feeling like a missing piece falling silently into place.

I didn’t want to see her crying again.

“….Don’t.”

For some reason Nazuna had her head down and just put her head onto my chest without saying anything.

“…Hey, Nazuna. Why are you crying too?”

She said teary-eyed.

Stupid as ever. But I liked that stupid side of hers.

“Hey, Nazuna. Let’s go shopping next time.”

“We’ll take Luna with us.”

While patting the surprised Nazuna repeatedly, I said.

The moment I spoke that out aloud, I felt a warmth spreading inside me.

Chapter end