Tsuki Tsuki Vol 8 Chapter 4

Chapter 04: Merged Dreams

—I could see a small girl standing in front of the gate of a big mansion.

“Welcome home, Dad.”

“Hello. My name is Gogyou Hijiri. Dad told me about it. You’re going to live with us from today on, right? Will you tell me your name?”

“I’ll show you around the house. Let’s go—Kaoru-san.”

“So, you know, Kaoru-san…”

“Actually, I always wanted an older sister.”

“So, Kaoru-san, if possible, would you become my older sister?”

The girl’s smiling face was really gentle, her squeezed hand was just so warm and that she treated me like a human, such a trivial matter… made me unbelievable happy.

Nevertheless the girl sought my attention. She invited me to play together. She always tried to stay by my side… Before I noticed it, I had really grown to like the girl, Hijiri-chan.

Still, in the end, I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t really know how to play together, so it was no good at all. Despite that, Hijiri-chan smiled a “Thanks” at me.

The always monochromic world, which I saw ever since my mother abandoned me, changed into a colourful one by staying together with Hijiri-chan. I felt nothing for the spring’s cheery blossoms, the summer’s fireworks, the fall’s evening sun and the winter’s first snow…but now I honestly considered them pretty.

Actually, I should have noticed at that time.

When Hijiri-chan promised me so while crying, when she changed her lifestyle, I, unable to give her anything in return, shouldn’t have taken her hand. If I had noticed that sooner…

After school on the day before the sports festival. Machina seemed to make a detour with the girls from class on their invitation, so I walked back home alone.

Of course I could call her on her cell phone.

“…Please take care of Kaoru-san, huh.”

I was a bit happy about that, so I decided to return with a gift for Kaorun, heading towards in front of the station.

Rained on, the girl, Hijiri had her glamorous, black hair wet and when she noticed me, she smiled softly.

“Yeah, I am… I see you’re back. Where have you been up till now?”

…That meant, she might have been taking jobs.

“So, ehm, how’s Kaoru-san? Is she getting along with the other girls?”

“She kept… quiet about it, right?”

“Kaoru-san is changing little by little, but that part of her hasn’t changed from the past. She’s puts on airs so that no one notices and even when she’s in pain, she behaves normally. She doesn’t show her weaknesses.”

Quietly, I said.

It was the same for me as a kid. When I started to attend my grandfather’s dojo, they had great expectations of me as the son of my father, but when they realized that I didn’t have a shred of talent and was weak… everyone separated from me.

That was why Kaorun must have been trying to act though, even if as a bluff.

“Hey, I want to ask, what made you want to go to university? Do you plan to quit as an exorcist already?”

Without any hesitation, Hijiri declared.

“…Sorry. I can’t tell you the reason yet. I want Kaoru-san to hear it as the first. Actually I should have told her about the reason when she found about me aiming for an university, but she ran away and I didn’t get to tell her in the end.”

“And I didn’t know if it will go well, so I couldn’t bring it up, as I didn’t want to disappoint her. But I got permission from my father, so I’ll properly tell Kaoru-san now.”

The desire to tell Kaorun first. No idea if it would go well. Permission from Sougo-san. And Hijiri had no plans of quitting the exorcists.

However, the Kaorun in question…

“Hijiri, theoretically speaking, if Kaorun were to separate herself from you and go to the exorcist organisation—”

“Eh? No, I mean theoretically—”

Still smiling, Hijiri cut into my words with a tone that left no room for argumentation.

“You sure love Kaorun.”

Hijiri nodded firmly in an instant.

“Mh? You once hated yourself?”

Leaking unexpected words, Hijiri shifted her gaze to the rainy sky.

“…Why would you do that?”

Amidst the soft raining sounds, Hijiri continued calmly.

Midway in her sentence, Hijiri smiled troubled.

Instead of the desired smile, Hijiri most likely was shown the crying face of her friend, stiff from fear.

Still looking up to the rainy sky, Hijiri suddenly smiled gently.

“…Kaorun did?”

As the remembered about that time, Hijiri chose her words preciously.

Kaorun’s tears must have been like a salvation for Hijiri.

Unnoticed the rain stopped,

the sunlight shone in between the gaps of the rainy sky and dignified illuminated Hijiri.

Shifting her gaze along with her words, Hijiri showed a pretty smile.

Still, I had one more thing that I wanted to ask Hijiri.

“Mh? Of course I have, but there’s something I want even more. I don’t think my happiness lies in a normal life… So I won’t falter.”

I strangely leaked words of thanks from my mouth and Hijiri titled her head, but— I had my answer already.

While thinking of Kaorun, I softly opened my mouth.

“…I see. That would help. Thanks, Shinobu-kun.”

…I hoped that everything would go well tomorrow.
Facing the sun that showed through the gaps of the rain clouds, I thought so.

The day of the sports festival, which the guys in class and Machina had looked forward to. After asking Kaorun to come to cheer on us, I left the house together with Machina and Nazuna like always.

It was just for the race, so I would bear with it.

Then I trotted down the hallway alone, whereupon I encountered a tall beautiful person with wastefully finely chiselled features and wearing an out-of-place Chinese dress. That person faced me and gave me a wink.

Making a strangely unusual voice, the person took a quite adorable pose.

“I’m Asada. Did you forget me already?”

Reminded me, Asada was going to cross-dress for the race as well. The girls must have put him into the cross-dress even before me.

While I was a bit surprised, Asada proudly puffed up his fake chest.

“You have your beloved sister, don’t you? If you’re going to cheat, make it a doctor or lawyer.”

“Oh, great. What kind of job?”

“…Even though it’s a workplace full of perverts?”

“But your sister is a bit aloof and even has a frizz on her head. Isn’t she the one that needs help?”

…Huh? Did I ask the wrong person? Now it might have been better if I asked my mother to look for a job. I made a big sigh in my heart…

After the opening speech and warm-ups finished, the sports festival finally started. While loud cheering raised all over the place and the sweat of the students glittered over the grounds, I cried a bit at our class cheering spot.

While cheering on the classmates, they repeatedly touched my body and when they came back from a game, for some reason they clung to me with “I won, Maid!” or cried in my arms with “I lost, Maid!”. Some of them even touched my bottom. For some reason,

they made a happy ruckus like that.

As I was going to participate with Machina in it, I pushed aside Minami, who was stuffing snacks into my mouth for a while now, whereupon she tilted her head puzzled.

“Ehm, that’s not it…”

“—Whiskey. On the rocks, please. Drink together with me.”

“Geez, Shinobu-chan. What are you going to do after getting me drunk?”

“Th- That’s all I ever considered— wait, no! I only considered it a bit!”

Machina was waiting with a weary expression. There I quickly got away from Minami and headed to the grounds with Machina, tying our legs together with a headband. Then we stood at the starting line and waited for the signal while giving our rivals a side-glance.

I could hear a cheering a bit louder than the others from the visitor stands.

They must have come together to cheer. Strangely enough Elni wasn’t with them, but for some reason Luna was cosplaying as a cheerleader girl and was greatly waving the pompoms in her hands, albeit embarrassed.

When I was about to be charmed by these movements, Machina increased the strength in her hand around my shoulder a bit and changed her expression in a rather serious one.

“—Call me the Knight of sonic speed.”

While Machina widened her eyes a bit, the slow voice of our homeroom teacher Hiiragi sounded over the grounds through the microphone from the staff tent.

“Hello, Goddess here.”

“The Goddess! I’m actually quite capable at commenting! Shinobu! Machina! Good luck!”

There was Elni, like expected. With the microphone in one hand, she passionate started the commentary while giving the perplexed Hiiragi-sensei a side-glance.

To be honest, I was quite concerned about Elni.

But, Machina’s voluminous breasts with plentiful elasticity hit on my body for a while now and her sweet fragrance melted my brain. Moreover Machina’s rough breathing was quite erotic.

If we tripped now, everything would be for naught. I suppressed my carnal desire and while my reasoning crumbled amidst the cheering, I crossed the goal tape with Machina, still in the lead. Upon that,

At the same time of the cheering, Elni’s commentary echoed loud over the grounds.

“Ah, right, Shinobu, Machina. We all, Luna, Tomoe-san, Koarun and I are at the visitor stands, so drop by when you have time. Let’s eat lunch together.”

“S- Somehow, this is more embarrassing for us. Actually, I saw Elni shaking the principal’s hand, but I’m surprised she doesn’t get scolded, seeing as she’s not a student.”

As always, she could get along with anyone right away.

“Oh.”

My mother aside, Kaorun wore a gym uniform, whenever she changed into it, and a single-lens reflex camera hung around her neck. She took a picture of me with that camera.

“Hey, stop the fishy business. My office says NG to cross-dressing pictures. Don’t you dare to circulate them. Actually, what’s up with your outfit?”

Along with her words, she crossed her arms behind her back and took an erotic pose.

“What is it?”

“Th- That is a well-known fact.”

“Seems Kaoru-chan went all out, so that you would praise her. She also took pictures of everyone as a keepsake.”

“…Mince your words, really.”

“Kaoru-chan, do you want a picture together with Shinobu on this occasion? I’ll take it for you.”

Blushing and commenting so, Kaorun quickly handed my mother her own camera. Following, she stood next to me, then put one arm around my shoulder and made a small V-sign. There my mother took a couple of picture, then showed a wry smile and called out to Kaorun.

“…Ufufu?”

When I pointed that out, Kaorun somewhat lowered her eyebrows.

“—You don’t need a picture of me, do you? If you look under handsome in the lexicon, you’ll see one.”

“Makes a woman cry in joy?”

“—Leave the chores to me!”

…Even though I tried to be funny to get you to laugh.

Softly stroking under Kaorun’s chin, I repeated the remark that I read in a book before.

“*blush*…”

I was perplexed by the unexpected reaction, whereupon Kaorun brought her well-formed lips closer with her cheeks still flushed and lightly kissed my cheek.

“…I captured a crucial moment. Later I’ll get a copy and sent it to my husband.”

“Well then, I will return to taking peeping shots of high school girls. Farewell.”

“Kaorun was bright red up to her ears…”

Upon that, my mother walked away with her cell phone in one hand and saying “I’ll make a short call”, as she had something to do about her work, so I decided to head to Luna and co. alone.

Amidst them, a stunning blonde beauty in a cheerleader outfit and a silver-haired girl with adorable features stood out, so I could find Luna and Elni right away.

“Hey, Hey, Luna. I overexerted myself on the commentary earlier, so I’m hungry. We have a lot for lunch, right? Can’t I get a single sandwich? Please, Luna.”

“Yay!”

“Hey, Hey, Elni. I overexerted myself on the three-legged race earlier, so I’m tired. And I’m sick of cross-dressing. Can you participate in the games after lunch break in my stead? Please, Elni.”

A bit of seriousness resonated in my words, but I had considered it a mere imitation.

“Somehow, I don’t want to be told that by you.”

Then I observed the sports festival together with Luna and Elni. After lunch, I got to lay on Luna’s lap and Elni rested her chin on my stomach like a cat, faintly smiling.

Truly a superb view.

“Eh? Shinobu-san? What about the sports festival?”

“…Yes. You are right, Shinobu-sama. The bouncing breasts of high school girls. Shaking bottoms. And me, taking peeping shots. That is enough for me.”

There Machina showed up, as if passing Kaorun, and she called out to me slightly wearily.

“…Don’t want. If I go back, I’ll get sexual harassed again. I’ll make this place my second home.”

This might sound pathetic, but it felt so pleasant here that I didn’t want to leave. When I drowned in the sensation of her warm thighs, Luna gently petted my head, as she had not intention to reprimand me.
But, in no time Machina grabbed me by the collar and dragged me after her. While humming DonaDona to myself, I returned to my classmates…

When I returned to our class’ cheering spot with Machina, Hijiri was someway surrounded by the girls.

…But, why was Hijiri dressed like that?

“Hey Machina, what’s up with Hijiri?”

“Hee…”

“Shinobu-kun, turns out I’m also participating in the costume relay. Let’s work hard together.”

“C- Cute?”

“…Thanks. You’re the only one, who said that…”

When I casually brought up the matter to her, Machina showed a questionable expression for some reason.

“Meow! I love Broth— wait, no! I’m not a Queen like my sister! Nor am I a kitten like Nazuna! Besides, what’s up with that lady-killer remark!? Keep your playboy attitude in check!”

While I gave a wry smile, Hijiri reserved pulled on the sleeve of my maid clothes.

“…I see. Good luck. If you can’t make time for it, try after school. I’ll tell Luna and the others later to not let Kaorun get away.”

“What are you talking about? Tell me.”

“Hijiri has something important to tell to Kaorun. Will you help us to keep Kaorun from escaping?”

Machina accepted my request with a smile.
Then we sat down at our class’ cheering spot and waited for our own turn…

The costume borrowing relay finally started. Besides me, various other students in cosplays gathered on the grounds and I saw boys and girls clad in kimonos, sailor uniforms or maid clothes.

By the way, I was the third runner and Hijiri was the fourth runner, the anchor. A bit nervous, I followed the second runner’s— the Chinese dress wearing Asada’s movements with my eyes.

The pervert was being seized by on older girl from the visitor stands. Moreover Asada was handcuffed by the girl, but somehow seemed to persuade her. Still handcuffed, he rushed over to me as the last.

There I looked at Asada’s handcuffs and called out wearily.

“Aww! It’s hard to run like this, but I had no choice! The task said “older”, so I called out to her! But it turns out she was a policewoman! I was nearly arrested, damnit! Damn policewoman! Next time I see her, I’ll lick her all over!”

“…From under the earth? Doesn’t that mean death?”

Asada would forgive it, so I cracked a hard joke and snatched away the baton.

Now then, what was the borrowing task? With Asada’s earlier incident, I became a bit worried and opened the slip, whereupon there was written a harassing task with pudgy letters, “Someone perverted <3”.

Well, that way it was more fun, but… what should I do about this?

First, Hijiri was out, since she was also in the game. Kaorun was out as well, as I didn’t know if she would get near Hijiri at the moment. So either Luna or Minami, but… Mhm, from my position the visitor stands were closer than our class’ cheering spot.

Carrying the baton and memo slip in one hand, I moved to the visitor stands at once.

Amidst that, I softly pushed aside the students and approached Luna. Then I took her hand and pulled her closer.

“Hey, you’re rude. You’re being too pushy.”

“…Eh? You’re a boy?”

The girl widened her eyes and looked at me in maid clothes, but… oh well. I just shrugged my shoulders and shifted my gaze to Luna.

“Y- Yes. Somehow, I am a bit excited right now…”

There Luna softly whispered into my ear.

“…Eh? Ah, r- right. Ehm… A pretty girl?”

Amidst that, Hiiragi-sensei asked timidly.

“H- Heeeey! D- Doubting is rude! No matter how you look at it, she fit’s the task! Please get some glasses!”

…M- My chest was about to be crushed from the guilt.

“On a related note let me ask, what part of her is per---”

Along with my words, I softly whispered into Luna’s ear this time.

“S- Seduce? Ehm, she is a woman and it is embarrassing…”

Somehow I felt bad for Luna. I should tell her the truth and apologize.

“---At this rate you would end up last, so I’ll give my best.”

“Fufu, you are so cute. If you give the OK, I will give you plenty of service.”

“S- So perverted! Just like you said, Nanjou-kun! Sorry for doubting you!”

Tilting her head a bit, Luna picked up the memo slip off the ground… and confirmed the contents. She faced me with teary eyes.

“That, well, I kind of thought that the natural erotic big sister would pull it off… I guess you’re angry?”

Glaring at me with still teary eyes, Luna weakly pulled on my cheek.

“H- H- Ha- Ha- Hate!? Eh? No way!? Hate!? Really!?”

“Okay! I’ll go with you as often as you want! So forgive me!”

…I was somewhat close to tears, so I was surprised myself. But it seemed she would forgive me, so I was glad. When I made a sigh of relief, Luna opened her mouth reserved.

“Oh, right. I totally forgot…”

There I hastily separated myself from Luna and headed for the butler uniform clad Hijiri, our anchor.

“Well, I saw all of it, but I believe the problem lies with the task. You were just a bit unlucky. Don’t worry about it.”

However, when she opened the task memo slip, Hijiri stopped moving. She seemed to worry about something, but as soon as she shifted her gaze to the visitor stands, she straight headed for… Kaorun without hesitation.

But, midway I lost sight of them. While leaking a sigh, I went around in search of them, casually heading to the rooftop, whereupon I saw Kaorun standing still near the fence, as she shook off Hijiri. When she noticed me, she widened her eyes and said isolated.

Tightly clenching her teeth, Kaorun trembled her shoulders.

“That’s not true.”

Without hesitation, I stepped up to Kaorun.

She surely said these words, because she lacked confidence in herself, just like me.

Taking one more step closer, I continued with “Besides”.

Saying my words with a strong belief, I looked into Kaorun’s eyes.

Closing the distance even further, I held out my hand to Kaorun.

There the door of the rooftop suddenly opened.

“Somehow, it feels like it has been forever since we met face-to-face, Kaoru-san.”

However, Hijiri didn’t seem offended and dropped her gaze down on the memo slip in her hands, then she calmly started talking.

On these words, Kaorun raised her head a bit in surprise, whereupon Hijiri continued with a smile.

“That…”

“You don’t need to hold back anymore. I properly got permission. You can go to university as well.”

Making a confused expression, Kaorun timidly opened her mouth.

“I promised you to change it, right? This is the first step towards it.”

“I’m still powerless and there was never such a precedent before, so it was hard to get my opinion across, but my father helped this time. He convinced everyone.”

“---What’s wrong with sending my daughter to school. That’s what my father said. My father kept his distance from you due to the guilt about your father, but he lived together with you for so long. You should already know what he thinks of you, right?”

“It was also my father’s idea to hire a new maid. My father thought you could concentrate on the entrance exam like that and have free time when you make it into university…”

Blurring her flickering eyes, Kaorun was at a loss for words, whereas Hijiri told her clearly.

“…Are you sure?”

“You do not need to tie yourself to that promise. You have no reason to face any more dangers. Forget about me, live a normal life, become---”

This voiced echoed loudly over the rooftop.

Hijiri might have been holding back the whole time as well.

“Why are you saying things like that! Why are you running away! Why don’t you depend on me more! When you left the house, I didn’t know what to do if you didn’t come back. I was so full of worry! I was scared! Don’t leave me ever again…”

“The first time you cried and smile, I made my decision. With you by my side, I can become strong. I can keep liking myself. I want to live together with you. So, I don’t want you to disappear. Stay by my side.”

“The cheery-blossom we went to watch for the first time were really pretty.”

“Indeed. Even at our first snowball fight, I was mean to the young Master.”

“Fufu, you are right. However, I like the young Master as well. He gave me a birthday together with you.”

“No. It was really fun being with you two.”

“Please let me stay at your side from now on as well. I might have nothing to give in return, but I… love you, Hijiri-chan. I always want to be with you.”

“Yes… Please do…”

And I certainly felt that their dreams had merged into one.

When I had these thoughts, a sudden gust of wind blew. It swept away the memo slip in Hijiri’s hand and blew it towards me. I casually caught the memo slip.
The task to borrowing something. There was--- the word “Older Sister” written…..

Sitting on a bench in the park, I watched the moon floating in the night sky together with Nazuna. I suddenly brought her all the way here, yet she asked in a good mood.

“Yeah. I’ll get right to the point, why won’t you return to gramps’ dojo?”

On my question, Nazuna answered while greatly averting her eyes.

“Hey Nazuna, no secrets. I’ll tell you my secret, so you tell me yours.”

“It’s about gramps’ dojo. I believe I need to tell you properly. I no longer have any intentions to take over the dojo…”

My words might have been just too surprising for Nazuna. She flickered her eyes in confusion and tightly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes.

“…Yeah, in the past I did. That’s why, to be honest, I was always… envious of you. Everyone said how you resembled dad and I felt pathetic as your brother, seeing as you were stronger than me.”

“…I’m afraid, I’m weak.”

“I have no confidence in myself, so I can’t convey my true feelings, which made you get the wrong idea. I heard everything from mom. You quit the dojo on your own, right? In the end, I took your beloved dojo away from you.”

“Because you’re kind.”

“Nazuna, the reason I went back to gramps’ dojo was because I got a person that I wanted to protect.”

“Yeah, right. Seven years ago, you had a traffic accident because of me. At that time I wanted to save you, so I summoned a single devil…”

About how the devil I summoned seven years ago, Luna, saved Nazuna, then went away with just a smile, without taking my soul. How I wanted to see her again, summoned her, but got the spell wrong and saw her memories. How about I wanted to protect her…. as she was giving me a smile, even though she was more hurt than anyone.

Everything I wanted had slipped through my hands, so this time for sure I didn’t want to let go off it, my most precious someone.

The miraculous meeting.

That I wanted to get even stronger.

“Somewhere else?”

“I mean exorcists. There’s the thing with Luna, but sadly I got another dream… even though I’m so weak. So, I’m desperately struggling.”

“…Nazuna, do you think it’s strange for me to say that, seeing as I’m weak?”

Shaking her head, Nazuna sparkled her eyes and responded reassuring.

“…….Thanks. I’m proud of you as well.”

But well, somehow dust must have gotten into my eyes. Once more looking up to the night sky, I blurrily saw the moon…

Chapter end