118: Excuses

Chapter 118: Excuses

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“You were fucking around when I was worrying dead about you?!”

Nejire pulled him by his arm from the back seat, causing his body to slip between the seat gaps and stumble onto the back seats. His head directly went and fell on Nejire’s soft chest, bouncing back once before Nejire wrapped her arms around his head.

“Ugh, I can’t even be angry!” She yelled out. “Tell me, how are you? You were not injured too badly in the fight in Hosu, right? Right?! And that guy, what’s his name again, uhh, Ida! I heard he died or something. It didn’t psychologically affect you right?!”

Neji made a sound as if answering, but his voice stopped midway.

“...You…” Nejire frowned and hugged his head painfully tightly. “If you say you won’t talk to me because I haven’t promised that thing yet, you’re going to make me super angry.”

“I am fine,” Neji replied immediately. “I might sound heartless, but I don’t care much about his death. I didn’t even know him that well.”

Nejire’s hug softened, giving Neji a chance to raise his head, though his chin still rested above her breasts. He was interested to see both her and Momo’s, who’s been sitting beside Nejire silently, reaction to his heartless comment.

They both stayed silent, and only Momo looked a bit surprised. Nejire simply shrugged her shoulders. 

“...Well, I kinda guessed that.” She said. Which was why she hadn’t asked Momo about his mental health before, she was confident she knew Neji more than Momo did. “But good to hear confirmation. What about physical wounds? I know you can heal them off, but I hope you weren’t taking extra risks when you were telling me not to.”

Nejire was strong, stronger than most Pro Heroes. She knew that. But she also knew Neji was stronger, she had never beaten him in their training sessions up until now. So the same rule shouldn’t apply to him, as he was probably stronger than 99% of villains in this country, but as his older sister, she couldn’t help but worry…

Neji smiled and spoke. “Don’t worry, I didn’t do that.” 

And he won’t in the future either, unless it’s very crucial he would flee if he meets anyone a bit too strong for himself. But frankly, there weren’t many people like that.

‘Maybe Nawab, considering the rumours weren’t lying.’ Neji thought, knowing very well that rumours are always exaggerated.

“Anyway, how are you Nejire Onee-sama? Oh, and Momo too.” Neji wrapped his hands around Nejire and winked at Momo who nodded slowly.

Nejire played with her hair. “Well, I am fine I guess. I was worried… but you seem fine, so I am feeling better too.”

“And Yaomomo?”

At Neji's question, Momo parted her lips before closing them again. She licked her dry lips once, before sighing. “Well, um, to be fair… I wasn’t expecting you to be so cheerful, let alone seeing you so intimately with Mirko. Ida just died… right in front of you, right?”

The car fell silent for what felt like a long moment. At last, Kimi’s sigh broke the silence.

“Momo, listen.” She spoke slowly as she drove the car. “The man you are dating isn’t a good man, he is not a model citizen, and he is barely what I consider a “Hero”. You have only known him for three years, and even then you only know him from school, so you might not be aware of it but… To put it simply, as long as you’re not someone who he loves, you’re nothing to him.”

“...”

Neji stayed silent, staring at the back of her head.

This time, even Nejire looked a bit shocked. She wasn’t expecting Kimi to know her brother so well. But there she was…

After a while, Momo nodded slowly. “I see…”

Nejire shrugged casually while Neji eyed Momo.

She had a terrible Hero Complex, which wasn’t a good thing for his plans after Summer Camp.

‘Guess I have to make her realise some things in the meantime…’

It’s not manipulation if it’s for her own good, right?

…Right.

—★—

The awkwardness gradually faded as they chatted more casually, but nobody touched the subject with Mirko.

Neji could tell, they were avoiding it intentionally… But why were they doing that? He wasn’t sure.

“So you’re not going home today?” Neji asked Momo. She was leaning on his left shoulder, while Nejire was leaning on his right.

It was barely 10 AM and the car was almost at its destination. So if Momo didn’t go home… they’d have a lot of time on their hands to do stuff.

“Nope. I told mommy already. She said it’s fine, although she will be sad since she hasn’t seen me in a week.” Momo replied, smudging closer to him.

“I see, I see. Don’t make your mother sad, we will stay together once we grow up anyway. Go back tomorrow morning, okay?" Neji said while patting her head softly.

Momo nodded while Nejire pouted at her.

"Oi, why are you treating her like a puppy?" She asked. "Weirdo."

"I mean…" Neji shrugged. "She likes it, and that's all that matters. Right, Yaomomo?"

Momo's face flushed, but she didn't deny it.

Nejire blinked and stared at her for a long moment. "...Why is everyone other than me so perverted?"

"What do you mean other than you?" Neji scoffed. "Already forgot what you were yelling on that night when I grabbed you after finishing off Kimi?"

Nejire blushed but frowned at the same time. "That's all because I was horny, okay?! It's a different thing to be so kinky in everyday life too!"

She humphed and moved her head away from his shoulders and turned her head to the window, instead.

Momo blinked. "Huh? Wait, what do you mean 'after you finish off Kimi'? D-did you guys, did the three of you…" she gasped and covered her mouth. "You are neglecting me, Neji!"

"No, I am not, what the hell?" Neji was shocked. But he soon realised how she must be feeling right now. 

'Ugh, it's hard to manage so many girls at once.' It was much better when he didn't have to care about the girls' feelings back in his old life. 

He tried to calm her down. "Okay, okay, I am sorry. But since you are staying with us for today, and since my parents are conveniently not home... I will make up for it, alright?"

He smiled at her as she narrowed her eyes first before nodding. "Okay. If you say so…"

Neji's smile slowly widened.

—★—

After a heaty night, the next morning, Kimi woke up first with the three kids cuddling in their sleep.

As the head maid, she practically didn't have to do any job at all, but she at least needed to get up early to keep the act.

But as she was about to get up from the bed, two arms wrapped around her naked waist.

"Where're you going so early?" Neji asked, yawning. "Help me clean up first."

Kimi looked at his face with an amused smile. "Aren't you old enough? Go shower by yourself."

"How about no." He protested and pulled her over, causing her to lean over him on the bed. "I've got things to discuss with you. You remember my proposal before I went to Rumi's place?"

He was talking about the part when he said he will take Kimi to the dungeon.

"Yes, I do remember." Kimi nodded, as she pushed a strand of hair away from her face, putting it above her cat-ears.

"I was thinking, how does today sound? After school, you wait outside school and I pick you up from there."

Kimi blinked. "Hm… I am not exactly busy, so it's possible. Sure, why not."

Neji nodded. "Okay, good. Let's 'discuss' more in the bath."

He squeezed her butt softly, causing her to laugh, as she stood up after him.

Neji was determined to do this. He will find a cure for her ASAP.

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