Tsuki Tsuki Vol 10 Chapter 3

Chapter 03: Sad Promise

Someway my body was enveloped by a soft warmth. Furthermore, someone was apparently petting my head, which felt really good.

“…M- Machina?”

In front of my eyes and nose were Machina finely chiselled features and she clung to me in the bed while gently petting my head with her slender fingers.

“…J- Just some physical contact.”

“Morning— Shinobu-oniisama.”

…Speaking of, yesterday it turned into me sleeping together with Machina.

“Hey Shinobu-oniisama, do you have any plans today?”

When I cracked such a playboy joke,

Machina softly rested her hand onto my thigh with a slightly regretful expression.

She addressed me different from yesterday. Yesterday it had been “Dear Brother”, but now it was “Shinobu-oniisama”. And she did a bit of physical contact, but didn’t kiss me like yesterday. She was somewhat reserved.

“Hey Shinobu, I have a favour to ask. Can I?”

“Because he was a spoiled brat.”

“Listen to me without joking around. We were talking just now and decided that we all will go to the department store now. Will you come along, Shinobu?”

When I replied with a small nod, Machina, having heard our conversation, faced her somewhat worry filled eyes towards Elni.

“Machina, I said we all, right?”

“Of course that includes you too, Machina. If you have no other plans, please come along. Luna and the others are getting ready right now. Shinobu, Machina— you too get ready in 40 seconds!”

“Shinobu, Machina must be a bit tired from the student council election and all. It’s for a breather, so please keep her company today.”

“…If you take a proper look at her right now, you’ll notice right away too.”

On the other hand, I seriously pondered about Elni’s word for some time while I started to get ready too, following the two of them…

Then riding the car driven by my mother, our whole family headed for the big department store. I had been there with Luna and Nazuna before. At that time I had bought Luna her requested choker, but that aside now.

Amidst that, Machina took my arm and was in a good mood.

“Machina, we’ll leave now, since we have something to do, but we’ll call on Shinobu’s cell phone when we’re done. Until then have fun with Shinobu.”

“Yeah. You can fawn on him all you want today again. Of course the same goes for us too. Once we’re done, let’s play together.”

“You really are like her older sister.”

Filling her expression a tiny bit with sadness, Elni got away from me and Machina, then slowly walked away with the smiling others.

I was a bit curious, but for now I decided to go around the department store together with Machina.

When I looked at the scantily clad older girl, even though it was cold, Machina lightly pulled on my ear.

When I shifted my gaze with a wry smile, Machina adorably puffed up her cheeks while still clinging to my arm.

“She was rather sexy.”

“Shinobu-oniisama, you like sexy girls like her?”

“Erotic and cool? You like that type? Then the your favourite from all our girls is… Kaoru?”

“Th- Then, what about me? Do you… like my type?”

I should tell her on this occasion. In order to answer her question, I looked into her eyes.

At the same time I declared so, my cheeks got hot and I tried to avert my gaze right away, but… Machina smiled so charming that I was unable to do so and was inadvertently captivated.

“Thanks. I really love you too, Shinobu.”

…She might have temporarily forgotten it from all the joy.

—If you take a proper look at her right now, you’ll notice right away too.

…Elni must have wanted to let Machina act spoiled. And likewise, Machina must have wanted to act spoiled with us. Guessing from the feeling I had this morning, Machina’s hypnosis from yesterday was already lifted without a doubt.

“Were you not going to buy a novel?”

“Do you have not enough money? Then should I buy it for you?”

“I, I would feel bad. You already bought me the cat-ear hat the other day. Only getting presents is—”

Or a cute smile and heartfelt words. I was really getting a lot of things from her.

“I just want to repay you for all the things you always give me. I’ll give you something even better than the cat-ear hat. By the way, is there anything you want? Nothing all too expensive, but I’ll see what I can do.”

Machina asked timidly. When I replied with a firm nod, she smiled with “Thanks”, then she pulled me on my arm with her eyes sparkling, as there was something she wanted. As we reached our destination, Machina pickedthat up and the moment she declared “I want this”, I was kind at a loss for words from the surprise.

E- Even if they were sisters, to think Machina would make the same request as Luna…

“Shinobu-oniisama, that choker, put it on…”

Like told, I tried to put the purchased choker around my own neck, but

It was embarrassing, so I had replied with a joke, whereas Machina lightly puffed up her cheeks and even dampened her eyes a bit.

“O- Okay, got it. Sorry.”

The faint fragrance of flowers hung in the air from her beautiful red hair and every time I lightly touched her neck with my fingertips, Machina leaked a sweet “Mm…” moan, so by the time I finished putting the choker on her, my earlier agitation had only grown stronger.

“Thank you, Shinobu-oniisama. I want to do something to thank you. Saying anything you want me to do.”

Taking her offer, I softly told her my request after a short pause.

“….When did you notice?”

Machina flickered her big eyes. Like I thought, the hypnosis was already lifted. Hearing my answer, she faintly dropped her voice with “I see…”.

Making a small sigh, Machina continued with her dropped voice.

“…We never considered it troubles. So you don’t need to fool us with hypnosis, just honestly act spoiled if you want to.”

Not saying anything more, Machina trembled her shoulders, cast her eyes down and shut her mouth.

“Your family won’t come to hate you.”

“You have your own charm. You too have your kind, cute and even strong sides. Even if you were to be weak, not honest or different from the others, all of that makes you you.”

“I like you like that. So do the others. I told you, you’re my family. From now on, I’ll never come to hate you.”

Upon that, Machina tightly hugged onto me.

Trembling both her voice and body,

Machina spilled quiet tears in my arms at the same time she said these warm-hearted words. I would have never guessed that she would cry and thus I was surprised, but I kept holding her for some time while petting her head…

As the shame got to her, Machina’s cheek were quite red, but my own were rather hot too and my face surely looked similar to hers.

Then we strolled through the department store, which randomly led us to a cell phone shop. There were the other girls on their separated business.

“Wh- What a coincidence to run into you two here. As a consequence, do you want to look at western clothes or so together? If possible, right away, Machina!”

“I would like to check out the food samples— wait, no! A- Anyway, come with us, Shinobu, Machina! Only Machina works too, just make it quick!”

…They said they had something to do, but just what was it?

“I know what you’re doing, but you don’t need to fool her that desperately. It’s all ready already.”

My mother was holding on… a slim cell phone.

“…For me?”

My mother smiled happily and lightly rested her hand on the head of the nearby Elni.

On these words, Elni smiled somewhat gentle and Machina flickered her eyes. Meanwhile my mother continued with her smile.

…My mother must have believed me and thought the Old Man Bram was living overseas. She didn’t know that he actually lived in the demon realm, nor that Luna and Machina were devils.

My mother’s voice and expression was so warm-hearted that it made me think so.

After lightly scratching her cheek a bit bashful, my mother filled her tone with warmth.

Still smiling, my mother conveyed her feelings and Nazuna and Luna each embraced Machina with “I want to be with Machina-oneechan too” and “I will help with the election as well”, whereupon Machina spilled big tears, even though she just had stopped crying earlier.

Halting her speech so it was hard to understand, she continued to cry with sobs for some time while being embraced by the two of them.

Still, even while Elni blending in with the others, just her expression looked somewhat sad, which bothered me a bit…

The heartfelt holiday was over and while we were busy again with the election campaign, our classmates still gave Machina their full support.

Also, even the girls of our class started to come to school earlier than Machina and me. At the morning, lunch break and after school they cross-dress me with the lead from Minami and accompanied Machina and me on our greeting sessions in turns.

The greatest rival to Machina was the current Vice-President, Himuro Kana-san.

From what I heard from Kaorun during the campaign, Hijiri once lowered her head to Himuro-san and apologized that she couldn’t help her, since she was supporting Machina.

However, her sentiment to support Machina must have been really strong.

And the members of our family undaunted supported Machina too.

Meanwhile, Nazuna researched about the election together with her friend Mii-chan, whereas my mother wrecked her brains over campaign pledges and speeches. Both of them gave Machina all kind of advices.

Lastly, there was a slightly surprising thing as well.

Still, even while Machina put her strength into the election campaign, she appeared somewhat weird.

After classes ended, I exerted myself until now by making the rounds to each club at school in my usual cross-dress together with Machina, Minami and Asada.

Finishing our rounds, Machina and Minami went off to the toilet, whereas I headed to the changing room together with Asada and quickly took off my cross-dress and make-up.

That said, participation was voluntary and after school.

While I thought like that, the nearby Asada called out to me with a wry smile when I had removed my make-up and cross-dress.

“Well, I’m cross-dressing nearly every day nowadays. Of course doing the make-up is out of the question, but I’ll learn at least this much, even if I don’t want to. I feel bad for troubling the girls over it too.”

“Because we’re doing our campaign during lunch break and after school. It’s a lot of troubles for the girls to make me cross-dress every time. Besides, their sexual harassment while they do so is a bit annoying.”

“…Don’t bring that up.”

“Still, you were so against the cross-dress, yet you accepted to easily when it was for Orangelo-san’s sake. Seeing you so serious without complaining made me think that I should give my best too.”

“I secretly made a fan club for Orangelo-san. Gogyou-san’s older sister, Kaoru-san helped too, you know? The members for the fan club increase by the day, so it should get us some votes for the election.”

“Well, guess so, but a fan club was only a matter of time. Even without our doing, a club would have been created in time. Because Orangelo-san is charming. That’s why our class works so hard, isn’t it?”

“Gogyou-san is getting us votes by speaking with the people from the Kendo club. And it looks like Minami and our class rep Katagiri are supporting Machina by respectively speaking with friends and other class reps. But well, lately… I’m a bit worried.”

“Somehow, isn’t Orangelo-san a bit weird recently? Like she’s strangely kind, lacks spirit, thanks the girls by taking their hands or does other things she usually doesn’t do. I can’t expression it well, but it’s like…”

Sure, Machina had hold my hand or hugged Nazuna without letting go before the election began and gently embraced Kaorun in front of the school gate on the first day of the election period.

However, they were happening a lot lately. Asada had a surprisingly sharp intuition. He might have felt something amiss and considered a few things. But without presenting any more of his thoughts, Asada changed his clouded expression into a smile.

“…You’re really unusually serious.”

Asada added a little joke at the end of the sentence. After I had removed my make-up, I left the changing room together with that nice pervert.

As soon as Minami spotted us, she smiled and Machina came over with a smile. Today again the choker I gave her was around her neck and Machina took my hand still smiling.

“I’m overflowing with wild charm, right?”

Even after the hypnosis from the other day was gone, Machina had started to make more physical contact with us family members than before, albeit a bit reserved like this.

But I hid it and while walking down the hallway together with Machina, Minami and Asada, my thoughts wrapped around the later meeting with our classmates and I brought up a matter with a casual tone.

“Yeah, it is after school. I think they’re busy with club activities and such. For now we should give our best with the members we get.”

“Looks like you two don’t know yet.”

Along with their words, Asada and Minami each changed their bittersweet smile into a normal one.

When we slowly approached the classroom on the quiet hallway after school, we could faintly hear the voices of our classmates. And when we reached the door of the classroom, everyone’s voices sounded dearly in Machina and my ears.

“Yeah. I thinks so too. I’m bad at sport, so I hated pairing up at P.E., because it always troubles my partner. But I never hated it with Orangelo-san. No matter what kind of mistakes I made, she neither got angry or fed up with me and gently gave me various advices. So I really like her.”

“You know, I was once picked on by the seniors in my club and felt like crying, but at that time Orangelo-san passed through by chance and helped me just because we’re classmates. She seriously scolded the seniors and then went away like it was the nothing special. I couldn’t thank her for it… So I want to pay her back now.”

While our classmates animated or bleared their voices, the stories about Machina I didn’t know of continued and apparently even Kaoruna nd Hijiri were in the classroom.

“Fufu, you really like Machina, Kaoru-san.”

While I felt my chest get hot too, I softly called out to Machina.

“…It’s… too good… to be true…”

…They all must considered Machina as important. Everyone came rushing over upon noticing her.

Each in their own way, they showed Machina their affection.

All our classmates were smiling gently together and surrounded by them, showered with their warm-hearted words… Machina surely tried to hold it back.

“…Everyone… thank… you…”

Upon that, everyone panicked.

Each of them started calling out to her and Machina shook her head and replied while crying.

Spinning her words with a grazed voice

and endlessly spilling tears from her eyes,

Machina quietly sobbed while trembling both her voice and body greatly.

Machina had admired her mother since her childhood. And our classmate gave her the feeling that she might have become like her admiration.
Even while showing surprise and confusion, these warm-hearted classmates stayed with Machina like me until she stopped crying…

Afterwards our classmates wrecked their brains during the meeting, as they wanted to do something for Machina, and discussed about the election. Since we were so many, it was somewhat noisy, but time went by relaxed.

Under the twilight sky, she walked besides me still smiling and remained silence for a while, but suddenly she stopped and said isolated.

“Because it was for you. Everyone likes you.”

“It might sound conceited, but I think so too. I surely made them feel that way. They returned the kindness to me. Not just Shinobu and the girls, but all of our classmate came to like me too.”

“When I see that, I feel like I have come a step closer to my mother, which makes me really happy. But, that’s enough for me. It’s more than enough, so, Shinobu…”
Her voice trembled faintly.

“It’s about time… I return to the demon realm…”

Forcing a smile, Machina spilled tears from her eyes.

“…No way it is.”

“Why are you saying that? There’s no need to go back, right? You can just stay here.”

“Even more reason not to go then. If you love them, why would you—”

“—My mother passed away due to me.”

Softly cutting into my words,

she put on a smile like she had given up.

Like recalling the past, Machina looked up a the twilight sky.

…She really loved her mother.

“Like my mother told me, I tried to stop acting spoiled and treat everyone kindly. I tried to give my best… But it was no good.”

“The place we lived in really was in the middle of nowhere, so when I played with the other kids, a wolf appeared. There were no adults nearby and my friends in danger, so I used my devil powers for the first time in front of them, even though my father had warned me not to.”

Machina cast down her eyes and clenched her fists a bit.

Just by imagining that, my chest wouldn’t stop hurting gravely.

With her voice still grazed, Machina squeezed out the words.

“…We won’t get hurt because of you.”

Denying my words, Machina shook her head a bit to the side.

Hijiri’s exorcist friend must have meant Tachibana-san.

But back then, I had my hands full with my own stuff, so I wasn’t able to notice why Machina, next to me, had been biting onto her lips, why she had been looking down or what kind of feelings she was having.

“Hijiri is trying her hardest to make them tolerate you at the moment. One day I’ll be an exorcist. I’ll protect you two together with Hijiri. Therefore—”

Softly cutting into my words, Machina forced a smile again.

Filling her expression with sadness, Machina still declared softly.

Machina showed an expression like smiling while crying. I couldn’t say anything to her.

I could only silently look at Machina, who filled her eyes with tears.

Unable to find anything I could do for her, I didn’t know what to do.

Again, I bit down on my lips and clenched my fists.

If I had an absolute strength like my grandfather or father, if I had a strength to somehow protect everyone, Machina might be able to live in the human world with a peace of mind. If I only had the strength and confidence to protect everyone…

“You’re fine as you are, Shinobu.”

“You’re admiring your grandfather and father like I admire my mother, right? You might lack a bit of self-confidence and think you’re weak, but you’re wonderful as you are.”

“Always joking around, but sometimes being gentle and petting my head, you protected me. That’s why I love you. Really love you…”

“But you can forget about me… Always protect… my sister and the others… my family…”

“I can’t bear… you leaving….”

“Still… I…”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Machina brought her trembling voice under control.

Hugging onto me, Machina laid her feelings bare.

Looking straight at me,

Machina showed a warm smile, even with tears flowing down. To her, my precious family,

I could only reply so, I could only pet her head. That was so frustrating and pathetic that I strongly clenched my teeth and simply kept holding back the tears that shaped in my eyes…

Chapter end