Tsuki Tsuki Vol 3 Chapter 4

Chapter 04: Way home through the rain

Leaving the house and walking for a while, we reached a huge mansion.

I went inside astonished when offered. What I saw there was an entrance hall thrice as big as our, a large hallway and

An elegant figure appeared from the hallway: A maid.

She looked lightly older than Gogyou-san and me. She had an outstanding style with extremely finely chiselled features like a model. Her black hair was cut semi-short and a little shaggy on the side.

She was completely expressionless.

“Miss, who might this delinquent be? I cannot appreciate that you bring home trash with you.”

I inadvertently made a wry smile, when Gogyou-san said in a rare angry tone.

Upon Gogyou-san’s word, the maid lightly bowed her head.

The maid said, not reflecting on her actions at all.

“Sorry, Nanjou-kun. Don’t mind her and come in.”

I took my shoes off and entered the house, when the maid opened her mouth still expressionless.

The moment the maid said so, Gogyou-san turned bright red.

Gogyou-san hastily denied. It was kind of cute.

“Should I really stay over when your parents are gone? I can go back if it’s a bother.”

“…Into someone’s arms?”

“It’s not a bother, so stay. You let me stay at your house before too.”

I told her that, but Gogyou-san continued with a “Still” and a smile.

After she said that much, it was too awkward to decline.

“and jump in your arms.”

“But I must say I am surprised. It is pretty big news that the Miss stayed over at a boy’s house. I have to inform the Mistress of this.”

“Then the Master—”

Gogyou-san started to panic, when the maid said unchanged expressionless.

“E- Ehm, I want you to stop.”

“Don’t tell them!”

For some reason the maid blushed on Gogyou-san’s order.

“Nanjou-kun, this is Kaoru-san. She works here.”

I thought what a cruel mistake that was, but didn’t retort. My instincts told me to keep low. So I left just a neutral “Hello” as an answer.

“Nanjou-sama, casually call me Kaorun—and I’ll air your guts.”

…Aw, shit. I retorted on reflex. Even though I wanted to keep low.

When I looked down, the dagger knife, over ten centimetre long, suspiciously shined near my carotid artery. I looked at Kaorun surprised, when she said while still not changing her expression at all.

“No need to bury me. No need for funeral offerings. Don’t let the living mourn for the dead. Actually, seeing you so close-up, you sure have long eye-lashes, Kaorun.”

Then Gogyou-san hastily got between Kaorun and me to stop her and lowered her head.

“Yeah, I could tell.”

Since they completely lacked willingness, I knew it was a joke.

“…Should I have said ‘I’ll kill you and then myself!’?”

Since it didn’t really matter, I gave an appropriate reply, when Karorun made an impressed expression for some reason.

“Ohh, you’re one of the rumoured perverts?”

“—-Okay, Gogyou-san, I’m imposing on you.”

Together with Gogyou-san, I ignored Karoun. Upon that Kaorun raised a surprised voice saying “You two are ignoring me!?” while she followed after us.

“…But is it really okay? Your parents won’t say anything about it?”

A bit taken aback by Gogyou-san’s shy words, I faced Kaorun.

“How regrettable. Even though I am present.”

“I cannot deny that. Miss, I do feel hungry.”

Maybe it was a usual thing, but Gogyou-san paid no attention to the maid abandoning her work and simply lead me into the huge living room. Then she left again.

She sat down at the table in the living room together with me and made no attempt to go help Gogyou-san. I was astonished, when Karoun suddenly opened her mouth.

“Mhm.”

“Nah, just give me tea.”

After Karoun said astonished, she left the room and came back with a tablet filled with tea and snacks. She put the tea in front of me and said expressionless.

“Kaorun, fetch me the remote control of the TV.”

While leaking an appalled voice, Kaorun handed me the remote control. Then she said expressionless, yet with somewhat hopeful eyes.

“Make do with channel 8.”

“The great Shinobu. And you?”

“See now. That’s the difference between us.”

Despite my words, I switched to channel 6.

Watching that program, Karoun dainty ate the snack rice crackers and said.

An humourless evaluation. Actually, don’t eat snacks before dinner. To begin with

When I added on what she was hired for, suddenly Karoun purposely covered her face with both hands and imitated a crying.

SOB, SOB. Kaorun imitated a crying, then she suddenly raised her head with an “Ah” and continued with a nonchalant face.

“….Karoun, want to go see a doctor?”

I looked at Kaorun with desultory eyes, when she said sulking.

“Well, my bad.”

“I wonder if God has noticed that you ran away from heaven.”

“No, what are you taking it serious for?”

“What a cruel joke!”

I grumbled. Then Kaorun said advising.

“….Dinner still not ready?”

I mumbled while looking at the TV, when I heard Kaorun’s shocked voice.

“You are no longer interested in me!?”

“Nanjou-sama, if you do intend to conquer the Miss, you also need to raise my affections points. That is because I am an reliable asset. I have watched over the Miss growing up, since she was small. I do know a lot of things about the Miss.”

“Yes, it is amazing. Well, that was all a lie though.”

“You practically ignored what I said!?”

“…Something’s up?”

“…Nanjou-sama, who exactly are you?”

I tried a frivolous answer, but Kaorun made a big sigh.

“…If I were to turn two blind eyes to it, you would be an handsome English gentleman.”

Kaorun hesitated for a short moment, then opened her mouth.

“Yes, a friend. I got her cell phone number and mail address. Moreover, I know of her profession.”

“Please do tell me your cell phone number and mail address too, Nanjou-sama.”

While surprised, I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and exchanged addresses with Kaorun.

….Whoops. Reminded me, I didn’t tell any of the others that I left the house.

Mh, I should contact Luna or Nazuna later on…

“Okay, ‘Pervert Maid’ saved.”

“Don’t let it bother you, Pervert Maid.”

Kaorun gave me a fierce glare while staying expressionless.

“Nanjou-sama, what about the ‘My angel’?”

Spending the time by speaking with Karoun about this and that, I waited for Gogyou-san’s home-cooking.

The dishes were fried stuff, salad and snow-white rice with miso-soup.

Kaorun, who had lined up the dishes together with Gogyou-san, openly declared her lies. Gogyou-san once again didn’t say anything and just gave a wry smile. But I had to retort once.

“No, actually I was also cooking. Moreover, I gave you chocolates on valentine’s day this year. Therefore this fried one belongs to me.”

“Then please do look forward to it next year. Also, please eat your tomatoes.”

“Such a sloppy maid…”

“Sorry, Nanjou-kun, that she’s such a weirdo…”
For some reason, Gogoyu-san appeared to be really embarrassed.

…After dinner, I relaxed watched some TV in the living room together with Kaorun. Then Gogyou-san encouraged me to take a bath, so I had her lead me to the bath.

“Now then, Nanjou-kun, take your time.”

For now I ignored Kaorun and said my gratitude to Gogyou-san.

“Yeah.”

“Nanjou-sama, no one will come to wash your back, so please do not raise your hopes.”

“Now you are treating me as air!?”

“Kaorun, I know I’m quite attractive, but don’t peep on me.”

I was somewhat interested in it, so I perked up my ears.

“Wh- What are you saying? If I do that, Nanjou-kun will hate me!”

“It will be fine, Miss. You just do not have to be found out.”

“If you say so. Then in your stead, I will…”

“Ah, Miss, please do not pull on me! Ahn. No.*crash*”

…I knew it, Kaorun was a weirdo.

Then I got out of the bath and returned to the living room, to find Kaorun there.

“No need to thank me.”

“Do not tell the Miss about it.”

I stopped my monologue, regained my senses and warned her hastily, when Kaorun giggled.

“Sh- Shu up, idiot.”

Since she hit a bulls-eye, I gave a curt reply. Whereupon Kaorun said angrily and then coughed to change the topic. Her expression stiffed up a bit.

“I see.”

Why would she phrase it so that I got an unnecessary fantasy?

“Nanjou-sama, please do not betray the trust the Miss has placed into you. If you do happen to betray her trust, peep on her bathing or sneak into her room….I take you know what will happen?”

I seriously affirmed Kaorun, who gave me a fierce glare. Upon that, her glare got even fierce and she said.

“Wait, why are you going along? You should reprimand me. Reprimand.”

“Call me a gentleman.”

“Gentleman.”

“Maid.”

“Hey, don’t decide that on your own. Don’t get into my mattress. Get out already.”

Kaorun said while pulling out a card game from under her skirt.

“Then you must defeat me quickly.”

I played cards with Kaorun against my will…

It was late at night with an heavy downpour. Kaorun finally stood up.

“…After hours of playing cards, it’s more like you get sick of it rather than satisfied.”

Despite that Kaoru, who was probably frustrated about repetitive losses against me, just remained here….and before we noticed it, it was the dead of the night.

“I’m tired. Go away already.”

I waved my hand with a SSH, SSH to chase out Kaorun. Upon that, Kaorun lightly puckered her lips.

Then Kaorun elegantly dropped a maid-like curtsy.

Leaving some ominous words, Kaorun left the room.

I mumbled while nonchalant approaching the window and looked outside.

“It’s pretty close by…”

I surprised turn to the sudden voice coming from side. Beside me stood Kaorun, whenever she even came back.

“…Are you that bored? Get out of here already.”

Throwing Kaoru, who was giving off a strangely erotic voice, out of the room, I once again looked outside the window.

“Give it a rest already! Get out!”

She got some nerve. I better tell Kaoru off fiercely once. I pulled open the sliding door and shouted.

“S- Sorry! I know coming so late is rude! Please forgive me!”

I faced Gogyou-san with my head tilted. Gogyou-san was wearing a sleeping kimino, but it looked like a yukata and she was hugging onto a pillow.

“What’s up so late?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind. I mean, it isn’t even my house.”

But what could she want in the middle of the night? Wondering, I sat down on the tatami mat.

….Mh? Pillow? I had only noticed now, but why was she carrying a pillow with her? Did she want to have a pillow fight? But with just us two it would turn out to be quite lonesome.

In that moment, Gogyou-san tightly hugged onto my arm.

When I faced her, Gogyou-san’s eyes lacked their usual dignity. She had an anxious expression and whenever a thunder sounded, her shoulders trembled.

I asked, when Gogyou-san nodded powerless after a short pause.

While mumbling that, Gogyou-san was lightly trembling like a small animal.

“Don’t worry about it. Everyone has one or two things he’s bad with.”

“Thanks, Nanjou-kun.”

I wasn’t so low as to get funny ideas with a frightened girl. Or so I was supposed to be. But then what about the current situation where I lay back-to-back with Gogyou-san in the same mattress, before I noticed it.

Puzzled, I decided to get an afternoon nap tomorrow and spent the night without sleeping.

SPLAT, SPLAT. Someone was slapping my cheeks.

A monotone voice with no feelings in it. The hand slapping my cheeks wasn’t exerting much strength either.

“Just Kaorun, huh. Let me sleep some more. I barely got any sleep yesterday.”

“One of your usual jokes? Sorry, but I’m sleepy. Save it for later…”

“…Kaorun, this is a misunderstanding.”

“No, really, that’s not it. There’s a reason why Gogyou-san is sleeping here.”

“I said no! The thund….”

Then how should I explain it? A cold sweat started to break out on my forehead and Kaorun giggled.

Then Kaorun gently patted the head of the sleeping Gogyou-san. She looked way more charming than with her usual expressionless look.

“Nanjou-sama, thank you very much for helping the scared Miss last night.”

I was embarrassed, so I averted my head unmeant, when Kaorun said quietly.

“That was one remark too much. Actually, should you be saying that as her maid?”

“Nope.”

“…What are you doing, Nanjou-sama? Is that a new kind of play?”

I joked while I tried to get up, then staggered and for a moment my vision momentarily became cloudy, maybe due to a fever. Like that I fell flat down onto the tatami matt. I hastily tried to get up, when

Kaorun’s hand reached out for my forehead. Her somewhat cold hand felt pleasant on my hot forehead.

“No, I’m faking it.”

“That is what you get for running around naked yesterday.”

“Bam.”

As pathetic it was, that forehead flick send backwards onto the tatami matt.

She said triumphing, then dragged up my body and put me back into the mattress. Incredibly she then pushed Gogyou-san, who was sleeping besides me, onto the tatami matt. She pulled her up and began to move her.

I dumbfounded watched Karoun expressionless dragging the sleeping Gogyou-san. She shrugged and said free from any guilt.

“….Actually you’re just a freeloader wearing maid clothes, aren’t you?”

I said wearily, when Kaorun continued indignant.

Talkative and somewhat confident, Kaorun explained, then faced Gogyou-san, who was sleeping tightly even while being dragged around, and opened her mouth.

“You can play various pranks on her while she sleeps?”

“No, I won’t. Why are you inviting me so casually? I turned you down, but you really are the lowest.”

Kaorun smiled suspicious and dragged the sleeping Gogyou-san out of the room.

“…What’s Kaorun doing?”

“You called for me?”

I denied on reflex, since I was surprised, but Kaorun made a doubtful face.

“…Yeah.”

“Well, you are scary when angry. So please do forgive me with this.”

I casually predicted the trajectory of the thrown object and caught the light blue thing.

“…Eh?”

Why was a brassiere in my hand? I stared at it in confusion, when

Gogyou-san’s flustered voice sounded and in the next moment, the brassiere was snatched away by an incredible fast hand.

Her tight waist and light blue panties pinched in between her brilliant thighs. Moreover Gogyou-san held onto the light blue brassiere, which she took from me earlier, with a bright red face.

I was at a loss for words in my surprise, when Kaorun said expressionless.

“K- Kaoru-san!”

“Miss, Nanjou-sama…Please do sink it deep into your memory that the bigger is not always the better. It is the enemy to women.”

I watched over this dumbfounded, when Gogyou-san shouted angrily after she opened the sliding door.

“What are you doing so early in the morning, Kaoru-san!”

“Y- Yeah, I have, but….I want you to stop doing these things before Nanjou-kun.”

“…I think my fever went up with that….”
I put my own hand on my forehead, when it was hotter than expected…

Gogyou-san frowned lightly when she looked at the thermometer.

Upon Gogyou-san’s words, Kaorun also peeked at the thermometer, then faced me and said.

“I’m actually a quite sensitive guy. It’s probably because it was a different pillow.”

“I’m nearly dying, so sorry I am.”

“Nanjou-kun, for now rest well. I’ll call your family for you.”

“Nanjou-sama, the current time is half past twelve. Please take a paid leave for today and rest from school.”

“Yes, the Miss has an appointment. Well, she has work. She’s going out soon.”

“Yeah, I have to go now.”

“Bam.”

I fell down back on the mattress by this weak attack.

“But she’s going out. Staying here when nobody is home is…”

Cutting into my words, Kaorun said with her chest puffed.

“She’s right, Nanjou-kun. Kaoru-san will nurse you, so rest assured.”

“Don’t go, Gogyou-san. Don’t leave me alone!”

Kaorun raised her hand and Gogyou-san nodded.

“No, well, that’s not it…”

I said reluctant, when Kaorun looked at me and said teasing.

“That’s so cute, Nanjou-kun…”

“Yes, yes. Mommy is busy with work, so please be a good boy and sleep.”

“Miss, please leave this to me and ready yourself.”

Gogyou-san nodded and returned her gaze towards me.

“O- Okay.”

“*Stare!*”

I opened my eyes. Kaorun was staring at me.

“No, just wondering how your condition is.”

“Is that a roundabout way to say ‘Warm me up with your body’?”

“Wh- What a thing to say! That will hurt even me!”

“…You do not have to hate me this much.”

“No, that’s not! I meant I’m feeling a nausea. I don’t hate you!”

I hastily made a follow up, when Kaorun said smoothly.

“…What are you doing? Please refrain from doing strange things and sleep obediently. Do you even realize that you are sick?”

“You want me to warm you up with my body after all?”

…Yeah, let’s ignore her. I got back into the mattress and closed my eyes.

“Your sleeping face is unexpectedly cute.”
Kaorun said something, but I couldn’t hear her. I fell asleep just like that.

My body was suddenly shaken in my sleep and a gentle voice called out to me.

“…Nazuna?”

“—Pft!”

“Nanjou-sama, this is not a time to be surprised. We have an emergency.”

I wearily retorted, scowled on my headache and straightened up my body.

“Please save your sleep-talking for when you sleep. A devil attacked.”

“Yes, you do know of the Miss’ profession, right?”

Overpowered by Kaorun, who had changed her expression into a serious one at some point, I nodded.

“To be more precise, the Gogyou Household has a high status amongst the exorcists. Well, to put it simply, they are an elite.”

“Yes. Along with the Kamo, Tsuchimikado and Tachibana, they are called the four Deva.”

“It makes you laugh– Excuse that. Please pretend that you did not hear that.”

“Well, as you can see, the Gogyou Household has earned themselves the grudges of devils like that. In precaution to that, charms are placed all around the mansion, but…”

“It appears the charms were ripped off. Disguised as a guest, the devil invaded openly from the entrance hall. I was careless too. I did not realize it it was a demon, so I opened the door and let it into the house, since it claimed to be your acquaintance.”

“Yes, a blonde big-breasted devil. There was also a red-haired and silver-haired one. I could not really confirm their presences, but they are not human.”

“These three claimed that I let them meet you, but I cannot obediently hand over a guest to a devil. So I threw a smoke bomb at them.”

I sighed unmeant, when Kaorun gently clapped onto my shoulder.

Kaorun probably felt uneasiness from me and misunderstood.

“…No, it’s not good when it’s sinking, is it?”

Seriously or joking, Kaorun said with her usual expressionless face. Then she pulled me up on my arm. I was surprised how unexpectedly strong she was. Kaorun lent me a shoulder while we started to walk.

Most likely the blonde, big-breasted devil Kaorun spoke of was Luna while the red-haired one was Machina and the silver-haired Elni. They most likely got a call from Gogyou-san and came together to pick me up. And it was probably Elni, who destroyed the charms.

“…Presume? So your life is in danger after all.”

“Nanjou-sama, you will face them alone…?”

When I said that, Kaorun stopped as she understood.

“Ohh, you understood.”

“…Huh? What are you suddenly saying?”

“You do not need to play dumb anymore. You want to sacrifice yourself, so that I can get away. As you would expect from the man that the Miss trusts. I am about to fall for you.”

“Please rest assured, Nanjou-sama.”

“I might not look like it, but I am somewhat different from a normal human.”

“Eh?”

“…*blush*”

Kaorun averted her red face from me.

I thought how unexpected that was, when Kaorun moved.

As quick as her words, I was pushed down on the spot. In that moment,something swept over our heads.

Immediately tried to call out. But when I was pushed down, I had hit the back of my head and grimaced in pain while Kaorun pulled on my arm and dragged me along the hallway.

I unmeant raised a scream, when Kaorun said while dragging me.

“I’m about to die right now!”

Kaorun increased the running speed, when I heard an angry voice from behind.

“Help me!”

“Do not worry. I will not let them put a finger onto you, Nanjou-sama.”

“Please do not speak! Or you will bite your tongue!”

At the moment I was exactly treated like a human mop. Maybe because I was sick, but I couldn’t raise up my upper body and was still being dragged around.

“…What‘s up?”

It was Elni. She had sat down on the table in the living room and nonchalant ate snacks while watching TV.

Apparently it really was Elni, who ripped the charms around the mansion.

“That…are the snacks I was looking forward to!”

I inadvertently retorted, when Elni noticed us. She turned to us, looked at me and smiled happily. Then she approached us while holding the snacks in one hand.

“…Hey, don’t just go off eating snacks in someone else’s house!”

“…Could it be she really is you friends, Nanjou-sama?”

“Shinobu-san!”

I turned to the voice, where my gaze fell onto a blonde beauty with a dynamite body.

“It is a devil, Nanjou-sama. Besides when she is a goddess, I am an angel.”

I asked, when Kaorun lightly blushed, but changed into a serious expression. Then she opened her mouth while glimpsing at Elni.

“Ehm, she…”

“—I’m Shinobu-san’s slave!”

“And I’m Shinobu’s lover!”

“Then I am Nanjou-sama’s maid!”

Inadvertently I dropped a light chop on Kaorun#s head and retorted.

“You have a slave and a lover, but you have no need for a maid…”

“…Family it is?”

“Nanjou-sama, these two are not human. The blonde girl is a devil while this silver-haired girl is…”

“She does not appear to be a devil, but she feels different from a human. You, what are you?”

“…A certain philosopher claimed that God is dead.”

Elni proudly puffed her chest, whereupon Kaorun made a small sigh.

“Yeah. It doesn’t matter if devil or non-human. They are my family.”

I affirmed sedulous, when Kaorun faintly smiled and Luna smiled whole-heartedly.

Elni showed a perplexed expression and smiled awkwardly when she made eye-contact with me.

“…Nothing.”

“Anyway, Shinobu, who’s this maid? A friend of Hijiri?”

I faced Kaorun while I said that—when

Suddenly I heard Machina’s angry voice along with a sharp wind sound.

But because I was feeling unwell, I couldn’t move as I wanted to and the wind bullet directly hit my face. I flew spinning through the air and clashed on the floor like that.

“Nanjou-sama, hang in there!”

I heard everyone’s voices, but I lost my consciousness there.

My head hurt. My body was still dull and wouldn’t stop shivering.

Then there was a knock on my door and Elni peeked in her head.

“No, I’m done for. Once that tree loses all it’s leaves, I’ll surely…”

“Shinobu, it’s just a cold, so you’ll be fine.”

“You still have a fever.”

I didn’t want her to worry too much, so I cracked a joke, but it didn’t seem to work.

“…Sorry, Shinobu. It’s my fault.”

Elni didn’t had her usual cheerful smile, but made an expression somewhat close to tears.

“I don’t really consider it trouble. Don’t worry about it.”

“Sorry. I was so happy that you invited me over… that I let myself pampered to much by you.”

That were my honest feelings. But Elni shook her head powerless.

“Home?…Your house was blown away by the typhoon. You have no place—”

Elni kindly cut into my words and reached out her hand for my head. She patted my head in a regretful parting and then waved her hand lightly.

With a sad smile, Elni turned around.

“It’s not sudden. I had considered it for a while now. The house with Luna, Machina, Nazuna and you was so warm that I merely prolonged my stay here. Besides—”

“I can’t… become your family.”

“Sorry, Shinobu. I like… being alone. Being with everyone is fun too, but in the end I prefer to be alone…”

When she had a cold, she had told me that she hated the rain, since she would be alone then.

Good morning, good night. She said she was happy about such trivial words.

I reached out my hand to stop her. But Elni left the room without saying anything.

“Shinobu, it’s not like this is farewell forever. When I’m in trouble, I’ll rely on you again. Please take care of me then.”

But I felt that it was somewhat forced and I searched for words to stop her.

I just watched over Elni leaving.

Having Elni around was fun. So I had considered to let her stay here forever.

I tried to convince myself like that, when Elni’s sad smile that she showed me earlier floated in my mind…and wouldn’t disappear.

I sighed and got off the bed, it started to rain outside.

I mumbled and dragged my dull body out of the room.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing, really. More like, what’s up with you? You have a cold, you should properly rest.”

I answered like that, when Machina stood up from the sofa and said.

“Eh? Yeah…”

“Here, Shinobu.”

I was surprised at Machina’s kindness while I moved the cup to my mouth. Then I asked while looking around the living room.

“Sister went shopping. She was in high spirit to make you something that recovers your energy.”

Outside the rain was falling quietly. I asked while looking through the window. Then Machina said while she looked out of the window like me.

“Good…”

…After a moment of silence, I opened my mouth.

I asked to confirm, when Machina strongly clenched her fist. For a moment, she showed a sad expression, but soon enough she frowned and said displeased.

“Are you seriously saying that?”

Machina looked down and her voice trembled.

Machina mumbled while resting her still clenched fist on her knee.

Suddenly, I remembered Elni forcing herself to smile, even though she was close to tears….She said she liked being alone.

For a while now, Elni’s sad smile on the parting wouldn’t leave my head.

I stood up from the sofa and headed for the front door. I could hear footsteps from behind me and turned around, when Machina made an expression like she wanted to say something.

Inadvertently I formed a smile, whereupon Machina blushed and said.

“Yeah, let’s.”

“Shinobu, are you okay? You look pale. Wouldn’t it be better when you go bac—”

I said sharply. Machina showed a troubled expression and sighed.

While saying that, Machina took the hand of me, who was staggering.

Before, Elni’s house had been at the riverbed. By now it had been blown away by the typhoon, but I felt that Elni would be there.

She stood on the bank of the riverbed and just blankly watched over the river without doing anything. Even now her appearance looked so fragile and close to tears that my chest hurt.

A voice leaked unmeant from my own mouth. Elni reacted with her shoulders trembling.

“Shinobu? And also Machina?”

While averting her eyes from Machina and me, Elni opened her mouth.

Elni spoke talkative.

Yet, Elni continued to talk distracting while feigning ignorance.

“Elni, we came to get you. Let’s go home together.”

But Elni didn’t took my hand.

“Sorry, I can’t go with you. I’ll stay here.”

I once again reached out my hand, when Elni shook if off powerless.

Forcing herself to smile, Elni said.

Then Elni turned her back to us, when Machina suddenly raised her voice.

Upon Machina’s words, Elni’s shoulders trembled lightly.

“Then you really want to be alone? Even though Shinobu said it was okay to stay, you want to stay all alone from now on?”

“That’s a lie. I can easily tell that it’s a lie.”

“Then! Why were you crying?”

“You thought I wouldn’t notice? I was in the same room. You were always crying in your sleep. Yet when morning came, you forced yourself to smile…Actually you hate being alone… So why are you leaving by yourself?”

“Unlike me, you’re being liked by everyone. Everyone gives you a smile. Yet…why are you letting go of that! Was it not fun for you? To you, are we just… unimportant existences that you separate yourself from immediately?”

Upon Machina’s words, Elni denied in a loud voice that echoed around.

When Elni turned around, she was no longer smiling. She was just making a teary expression and biting on her lips like she was enduring something.

With her voice trembling, Elni made a face of resign and faked a smile.

Chapter end