CH 26

Chapter 26: Kazemiya Kohaku's Prologue

Translated by Dawn

Chapter 26: Kazemiya Kohaku’s Prologue

For a person named Kazemiya Kohaku, a person named Narumi Kouta was an ally and important friend.

Because he was an important friend, she should be happy that the problem he was facing would be resolved.

Of course, I was happy. But at the same time, I also felt—lonely.

Once his family problems were resolved, Narumi would not come here anymore.

Because this was a place to run away. A place to escape.

If there were no need to escape anymore, there would be no more use of this place for him.

“…Such a bad person, me.”

I liked the time I spent with Narumi at this family restaurant, but I was sad and lonely when that time was gone.

A broken family being able to start over. I should know better than anyone how happy, joyful, and wonderful that would be.

Why could I not congratulate him honestly?

“……..”

It might be bad manners, but I plopped down on the table and closed my eyes.

Trying not to think about anything. I mustn’t be a bad person any more than I already am.

“….Nn.”

Apparently, before I knew it, I had really fallen asleep.

I looked up, a little embarrassed that I had fallen asleep in the restaurant.

“Ah, you woke up.”

It was Narumi in front of me.

“You know, you shouldn’t sleep carelessly in a restaurant, no matter how often you are there. What if something happens to you?”

“…..Why are you here?”

“I told you I’d be back to meet you later.”

“You did say that, but…..eeh? Are you an idiot?”

“Who’s an idiot? I’m in twelfth place.”

“I’m eighth.”

“Gununu…!”

“Wait, this isn’t it.”

I accidentally just went with the flow, but it should not be like that.

“….Could it be. Did you fail about the family thing?”

“No, thanks to you, it went well…Well. Things are just getting started.”

“….I’m getting more and more confused.”

“I’m also confused about what you’re confused about.”

This could be a dream. It must be. A dream.

“…Then, there’s no point for you coming here anymore.”

“Why.”

“Because……Narumi doesn’t have to run away from his family anymore.”

“That’s not true.”

Not caring about my anxiety, Narumi said it without hesitation.

“I’m sure there will come a day in the future when I’ll want to run away from my family again, just because this one is resolved.”

“……is that so?”

“I think so. If I lived with people other than myself, there would be places where I would fit in and places where I wouldn’t fit in. If I lived this way, I’m sure I’d be able to say one or two things to my family that I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying to them.”

“……Now that you mention it, it’s pretty normal.”

“It is. It’s normal. I don’t think it’s special to say, ‘I want to run away from my family.’ It’s a common, ordinary story that happens everywhere and to everyone.”

Narumi said that what happened this time was not an extraordinary story like a fairy tale or legend.

“But it’s different now, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. I’m trying to face my family as much as I can, at my own pace.”

“Then stop coming here and go home.”

No, I. I really don’t want that. I’m like this because I’m lonely…

“….What about Kazemiya then?”

“What do you mean? Nothing. I’m just going to waste my time here again.”

My family was already finished. It was too late.

It was different from Narumi’s family. That was why I’d always stay 

“I’m going to keep running away. From that house, from my family.”

“Then I’ll go along with you.”

“What?”

What is this guy talking about?

“You said it yourself earlier. You said you were going to face your family.”

“That’s my family, not Kazemiya’s.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“Kazemiya is running away from her own family, right? Then I will just run away with Kazemiya from Kazemiya’s family together. …I’m not running away from my family.”

That’s. In short.

“……in short. That’s it. We’re going to stay together from now on.”

Narumi said that to me as he turned his head away in embarrassment.

“In the first place, we promised to go somewhere together during summer vacation.”

“Right…we were.”

“You have that list on paper, don’t you? Don’t forget it.”

“How could I forget? It’s just……right. Sorry.”

Yes. I would never forget it. The list I wrote in that notebook was folded and I carry it around on my phone cover.

“……but hey. Are you sure this was a good thing? I think you should be with your family today.”

“I know. I told you I’d come to get you.”

“Eh?”

“Well, to be honest. The atmosphere in the house is still awkward. It’s not that bad. So I thought I’d let Kazemiya power do something about it.”

“What’s that.”

“My dad and mom both like you, so when we talk about Kazemiya, it lights up the house…even though my mom can be a little annoying.”

“It’s fine. I like Narumi’s mom.”

“I’m glad you said that.”

Narumi took a slip of paper and got up from her seat.

“You don’t want to go back to your house yet, do you? Then stay at my house. My whole family will welcome you.”

“Your sister too?”

“Maybe. It seems that Raimon-san has talked to her, and she won’t be making any more comments about you.”

Narumi chuckled and held his hand to me, still sitting in his seat.

“If Kazemiya wants to run away, I will run away with you, forever and ever, even to the end of the world.”

—Narumi said that what happened this time was not an extraordinary story like a fairy tale or legend.

That might be true. Everyone had the desire to run away from their family.

But.

This moment when Narumi reached out to me. This moment must be.

“Even if you become a demon king who destroys the world, I will stand by Kazemiya Kohaku.”

For Kazemiya Kohaku, at least, this was a scene from an extraordinary story, more than a fairy tale or a legend.

“…What’s that. What do you think of me?”

“The Demon King.”

“Keep talking.”

I responded to the hand extended to me.

“Thank you, Narumi.”

Our overlapping hands connected naturally, without conscious thought.

When I went to Narumi’s house, both Narumi’s mom and dad were really welcoming.

Also, his little sister……Kotomi, also welcomed me, although she looked a little awkward.

Well. In the first place, it’s a bit confusing how to treat a female friend of a stepbrother.

We ate dinner together and I even took a bath with her.

The family gathering that Narumi had reconstructed was so bright and warm. I was so envious.

And I had to sleep in Kotomi-chan’s room.

To be honest, the sofa in the living room was enough for me, but surprisingly, Kotomi suggested it.

“Then, I’ll turn off the lights.”

“Mhm. Got it.”

On the futon that Kotomi gave me, I was somehow looking at the ceiling.

…I couldn’t sleep. Come to think of it, I just fell asleep at a family restaurant earlier.

“….Are you still awake?”

“I am.”

“I see.”

In the dark room with the lights out, all I could hear was Kotomi’s voice.

It was like the night of a school trip, I thought absentmindedly.

“….I’m sorry.”

“Eh?”

“I misunderstood you senpai. I took the rumors to heart…so, I’m sorry.”

“Oh, about that. I don’t mind. It’s my fault for not trying to clear up the misunderstanding and leaving the rumors alone. I think it’s rather natural, no? If my brother had a bad reputation, I would have done the same thing.”

I see, so this was the reason Kotomi was trying to sleep in the same room with me.

Just as Narumi said, she was a very disciplined and serious girl.

“I heard a lot about you from President Raimon. You were friends with her, right?”

“Well, yes. It was unexpected, wasn’t it?”

“That’s……honestly, yes. You two are complete opposites.”

“That’s true. I think so, too.”

Then there was another short period of silence.

But Kotomi seemed to be awake, and I got the feeling that she had something she wanted to say but couldn’t say or……something like that. So I just kept quiet and waited. Until she could say something.

“Umm…and…”

“Hm?”

“….And, thank you very much.”

“What’s the matter, all of a sudden?”

“My brother told me. He said that the reason he was able to face his family again was that he ran away. ……That’s about Kazemiya-senpai, isn’t it?”

“…I wonder. If so, I would be happy.”

“I’m sure it is. So, thank you very much. Thanks to you……our family can start over from now on.”

“I see. Good for you.”

“Yes.”

Kotomi’s voice sounded really happy. It made me happy, too.

“…I’m relieved, to be honest.”

“About what?”

“That Kazemiya-senpai is—my brother’s girlfriend.”

“…….eh?”

“It’s up to him to decide who he wants to be his girlfriend, but if it’s someone weird, I’ll be worried too……so I’m glad it’s Kazemiya-senpai.”

“……..Wait.”

“Yes?”

“……Girlfriend?”

“That’s right.”

“…….With whom? Who?”

“Kazemiya-senpai and my brother…”

Kotomi’s voice sounded puzzled, and conversely, I was also puzzled.

“…….We’re not like that.”

“Ehh!? Am I wrong!?”

“Yes. We’re not like that.”

“I thought you two are dating. Because today, when you came to our house, you were holding his hand!”

“Even friends hold hands with each other, no….?”

“When we were in the living room, you sat next to my brother and flirted with him!”

“We were just talking like normal people…….”

“Even though you two were so close to each other!?”

“Well, that’s normal too……I guess.”

“My mom and dad also said ‘that’s the distance of a lover’, though!?”

“…….I don’t think that’s true. Probably. Wait, did they just say that?”

“With that kind of distance when you’re not even lovers, isn’t that a problem…..?”

“…………..”

No good. I couldn’t say anything back.

“Umm…so, Kazemiya-senpai is not particularly interested in my brother as a member of the opposite sex?”

“Narumi is just a friend….It’s not that I like him or anything….”

I couldn’t say no. I couldn’t move my mouth any further.

Narumi’s face floated in my mind and wouldn’t go away, my heart throbbed, and my face was……hot.

(……Ah, I see. That’s right….)

I kept running away from the true nature of this fever.

But with Kotomi’s words, I finally realized.

“….I like Narumi.”

Kazemiya Kohaku was in love with Narumi Kouta.

A/N:

Volume 1 is now complete!

Volume 2 will be a summer vacation story about the Kazemiya family, and Kazemiya’s older sister, whose name has only been mentioned so far, and she will also make an appearance.