Volume 10 - CH 25

Moon: [Best Friend]

When I told Takeru about what happened in the class this morning, Takeru simply muttered “I see……..” in reply.

His eyes wander around aimlessly.

Even though we are so close to the sky on the roof, the moon still can not be seen.

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“We can’t meet Mishima at school anymore huh……she was here just the other day……”

“It’s so frustrating………everyone in the class, the media, they all painted her as some kind of murderer!”

“I feel the same way, Mitsuki.”

“Takeru……”

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I feel better at Takeru’s words of reassurance.

He places his big and warm palm over my hand.

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“I will definitely stay by your side, Mitsuki. I won’t ever make you sad because of me.”

“Takeru……. thanks……”

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Before I knew it, Takeru took me into his arms and gave me a gentle kiss.

In his embrace, I felt so safe.

I’m glad that he understands that Haruka is not that kind of person.

I’m glad that I met you, Takeru….

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I might have collapsed already if he wasn’t there for me.

Like Otou-sama who was there for Misuzu and me when we were young, he’s become someone who can ease my heart.

Takeru’s existence is growing bigger and bigger inside of me.

So this is what it’s like to depend on someone huh…….?

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I fall deeper for him…….

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“Takeru, ……kiss me more.”

“It’s the first time you asked me to do it.”

“I’ve always, longed for this.”

“I love you.”

“I know……”

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Reassured by Takeru’s warmth, my eyes started to narrow.

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“Don’t cry……”

“I won’t……”

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Takeru wipes away the tears in my eyes and places his forehead on mine.

With his handsome face taking my entire field of vision, I started to blush.

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Haruka……..

It’s only me, Takeru, and Emi.

It’s just the three of us but we are on your side.

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They are there to support me when you’re gone.

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After that, Takeru and I continued our search for [Curse Breaking] Gift.

We tried to visit Haruka but we were turned away.

I tried and tried but I still couldn’t see her.

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But with him, anything is possible.

I just have that kind of feeling when I’m with Takeru.

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“I didn’t expect Mitsuki to really go out with Juumonji-san. You left all the boys in my class heartbroken you know!”

“I haven’t even met them, why would they be heartbroken when I got a boyfriend………”

“You serious girl? Do you know how popular you are……?”

“Rather than me, Towa would be more popular with the boys right.”

“I’m already taken, studying is my everything.”

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At Myacdonald, Towa was teasing me about my newfound boyfriend.

Towa always acts like an honor student at school but only around me does she allow herself to show this normal girly side.

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When I sipped on my milkshake, Towa continued.

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“Actually, Juumonji-san has been on my mind too. I never thought that Mitsuki would swoop in and take him away like that.”

“Is, Is that so? But weren’t you telling me how [Unpleasant] he was before I met him?”

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I knew from the start with how she reacted that Towa is actually fond of Takeru but I pretend to be surprised.

There’s also an ulterior motive behind that since I want to hear what Towa actually thinks of Takeru.

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“…….well, I wouldn’t have the will to act on it anyway. No matter how hard I study, mom and dad would never come back…….I know that but when Juumonji-san said it to my face, I was upset……at that time, maybe I did fall for him a little.”

“S, Sorry…….without me, Takeru and you might be dating right now……”

“Don’t be sorry…….it’s not like I didn’t have a chance at all but I do hope from the bottom of my heart for Mitsuki and Juumonji-san’s happiness you know! Do your best!”

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Towa shows me a fleeting smile.

Since when have I found my friend’s smile so unfortunate I wonder……

Ever since she lost her parents, I knew that Towa has changed.

I also wish for Towa to find a man who will make her happy.

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“Seeing Mitsuki now I also want a boyfriend too”

“Eh? Really?”

“You’re saying that after you went Takeru this Takeru that on me?”

“S, Sorry……”

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Light vanished from Towa’s eyes and she retaliated with an accusatory tone.

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“What kind of person would Towa like to have as a boyfriend though?”

“Someone who’d call me in a special way maybe.”

“Ha? What do you mean?”

“Like, don’t you think it’s cute if someone calls me using a pet name instead of Miyamura or Towa?”

“I can’t say…….”

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The light returned and Towa suddenly became talkative, her eyes even seem to sparkle.

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“In short, Towa prefers a busybody guy like Takeru?”

“M, Maybe?”

“There’s no stopping you if you’re left on your own after all. I think a person who can put a brake on you would balance you very well.”

“So that’s how Mitsuki sees me. I need to write that down.”

“In your smartphone……?”

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I’m an analog person so my mind immediately went to a notepad that’s why it’s weird for me to see Towa fidgeting with her smartphone.

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“Ahh, how nice. I want to love someone so much that I can say [I won’t let anyone have my man] too.”

“Haha, Towa’s such a good girl so I’m sure that you’d be able to find a person like that in no time.”

“I wish.”

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She put her phone on the table and pouted.

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“Isn’t there anyone in your class on your mind at all?”

“Absolutely none.”

“I, I see.”

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Towa gives a cold denial and puts the straw to her mouth.

I also sip on my green tea.

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Just like that, Towa and I passed our time at Myacdonald with love talk and random facts about Takeru.

While having such a relaxed conversation with my best friend, I felt my stress going away.

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The stress from Misuzu’s cold attitude.

The frustration from my fruitless search.

The irritation from Haruka’s tarnished reputation.

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These three things would cause me stress every day.

I started to wonder if they will stay with me all my life but they seem to vanish when I talk to Takeru and Towa. These two are that important to me.

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“Okay, see you later!” I bid Towa farewell.

She’s going back to her home where her parents would no longer be there to welcome her back while I head to the supermarket.

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I finished my shopping while worrying about what kind of bento I should make for Takeru tomorrow. On my way home, I walk down the street gazing at the cloudy sky and the not-so-pretty moon that’s giving off a subtle glow from behind the clouds.

I got back to my apartment but Misuzu wasn’t there so I finished dinner, had a bath, and went to bed.

Misuzu is later than usual today. Normally, she would come home while I was in the bath.

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“………”

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With all the bad things that happened recently, my mind turns to the worst.

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Maybe, even if I manage to dispel the [Crest of Gift Acceptance], I might not be able to reconcile with Misuzu.

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We avoid each other, we don’t talk, and even when we do it would always ends badly.

If I can remove the crest, would the current Misuzu be able to smile at me like she did in the old days……

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I can’t help but imagine the worst.

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“……….”

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No.

Unlike Otou-sama, I won’t abandon my sister.

The bond between Moon(Tsuki) and Bell (Suzu) would not disappear.

It’s just impossible for me to abandon Misuzu!

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I know that Misuzu hates me.

That’s why I will accept her no matter how much she hurts me.

As her older sister, I will accept it all even if it only serves as Misuzu’s stress reliever.

Even if Misuzu tries to kill me, I’ve already resolved myself for it.

It’s my role to be an outlet for her who is shunned just for existing.

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If I have to come up with things that I would never forgive Misuzu for, there would be almost nothing.

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—-Takeru, Towa, Emi, Haruka, I can forgive her as long as she doesn’t touch my important people.

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“…….she’s back huh.”

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I heard the door unlocked and the footsteps of someone walking through the front door.

Finally, my sister came back home.

Reassured by that, I close my eyes……

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“Onee-sama, you thieving cat, you fall asleep so carelessly……….Misuzu will have you disappear from Misuzu’s life tomorrow. Fufu……..”

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While gazing at her sister’s room with contempt and jealousy, the girl holds up a small bottle with a smile…….

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Author Note:

This is not the first time Towa pray for Takeru’s happiness.

V5C39

She doesn’t only do this in Risa or Mitsuki’s route. Even when she was not depicted in the story, she would always do the same thing (The players did not see this because they were in Takeru’s POV)

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Scumbag Bestfriend Tow-chan would never do that though (lol)

Rather than cheering others like Emi and Madoka, she’d prefer the others cheering her on instead……..

I mentioned this once already but I thought I should say it again here.

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Incidentally, when Hideyori called her Eien-chan, it was a clean hit on Towa.

V5C28

2 chapters after that, there’s also a scene where Towa mentioned that she prefers a special pet name like that.

Towa-chan all the way!

V5C30

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V7C7

If you read this chapter you will understand what Mitsuki means by Towa preferring the busybody type.

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V8C14

In this chapter, Hideyori was surprised that Mitsuki knows Towa but he reasoned that since the two never chatted in front of Takeru, the players didn’t know about it…….

At the time, I didn’t have any deep reason to set it up like that but when I started writing Mitsuki’s route, I found that there was little reason to show them together in front of Takeru so I’m thankful for that setting.

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Next up, the Final chapter of [Moon]…….