CH 51

Don’t Underestimate Kiniwa-san

The fun-filled summer vacation has come to an end.

There was only one event left that we had planned to go to together before the summer vacation.

It was the summer festival and fireworks display.

The summer festival held in our hometown every year lasts for three days, and the fireworks display is held on the last day.

It’s an event where you can enjoy both the summer festival and the fireworks display at the same time.

And then…

“Hello.”

I was greeted by Kiniwa-san, who was standing at the entrance with a smile on her face.

She said she wanted to have a meeting to enjoy the summer festival and fireworks display.

“Come in……”

I urged her to come up to the house.

“Sorry to disturb you.”

Kiniwa-san, smiling and laughing, took off her shoes and went up to the house.

“Oh, um, …….”

As she walked towards the stairs, I couldn’t help but call out to her.

“Hmm?”

When she stopped and looked at me, she tilted her head.

Why are you going upstairs instead of the living room?

I wanted to ask her that question, but I could feel an inexplicable kind of spirit coming from her, so I swallowed my spit, unable to ask.

“Ufufu.”

She laughed and walked up the stairs to the second floor.

It was strange, absolutely strange.

It’s not strange to have a meeting about a summer festival and a fireworks display. What was strange was that Kiniwa-san came alone.

If it was a meeting, it would be normal for everyone to be together.

In addition, just a few minutes ago, Takanashi-san contacted Alice, and she left the house.

The timing was absolutely strange.

Then Kiniwa-san went upstairs without permission.

I’m sure she went to my room.

I could smell that she was being set up.

She came to my house alone, but I’m sure she’s connected to Takanashi-san behind the scenes.

What I don’t understand is why Alice left the house so honestly.

Strangely, Kiniwa-san would come to the house alone, and it’s also strange that Takanashi-san would call only Alice, but why did Alice honestly leave the house?

The only thing I can think of is the possibility that Alice is also connected behind the scenes.

What in the world is she planning to do?

◆

After preparing tea and snacks, I took them and headed upstairs to my room.

When I opened the door and went inside, I found Kiniwa-san sitting on my bed.

I remembered the time when Takanashi-san and the others had come to stay at my house, and my heart was pounding.

The sight of Kiniwa-san in the bath, just as she was when she was born. Takanashi-san stripping off her pajamas in my room.

Even though I had seen everyone naked on the camping trip to the hot springs, the memories of everyone staying at my house were more vivid and exciting.

“I’m looking forward to the summer festival and fireworks display.”

Kiniwa-san smiled.

“Yeah, I guess so……”

I put the tray with the tea and snacks on the table and sat down on the cushion on the floor.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I sat on the bed.”

Kiniwa-san, who sounded flustered, stood up and came closer to the table.

She sat down in front of me, but then she stopped and glanced to the side.

What she was looking at was a bookshelf.

“Speaking of which, I’ve never seen any old photos of Amane-chan.”

She approached the bookshelf and stared at the books lined up.

I can only assume that her sitting on the bed was a strategy to get up to sit back down on the cushions on the floor, and then naturally approach the bookshelf from there.

And Kiniwa-san’s purpose was probably…

“Oh, there’s an album.”

Kiniwa-san shouted, and I knew it.

I’m starting to understand why Kiniwa-san came to my house alone.

She wanted to see pictures of my past.

Why would she want to see such a thing?

Probably to find out about the relationship between Kanau-kun and me, I guess.

Takanashi-san and Kiniwa-san were shocked when they saw Kanau-kun’s photo.

I thought I had cleared up the misunderstanding, but it seems they still suspected me.

The reason Kiniwa-san came alone is probably that Takanashi-san is not good at that kind of thing.

I guess the plan is to act natural and bring the story to the album, but Takanashi-san seems to be a bad actor.

That’s why I think Takanashi-san played the role of calling Alice and pulling her away from me.

I guess she thought that if Alice was with me, she would get in the way.

Alice, on the other hand, seemed to have fallen for their plan, but I think she probably did it on purpose.

As for Alice, I’m sure she would want everyone to understand that Kanau-kun and I are just relatives.

“You can look at the album as you like.”

When I said this, Kiniwa-san reacted with a jump.

“Y-Yay!”

Kiniwa-san was happy. But her reaction seemed a bit deliberate.

Maybe she didn’t expect me to agree so easily.

It’s a little unnatural for Kiniwa-san, who seems to have the ability to read people’s minds, to be so naive, and to react so stiffly.

I wonder if that’s how much she cares about Kanau-kun.

If that’s the case, I need to make sure I clear up the misunderstanding.

After quickly pulling out all the albums from the bookshelf, Kiniwa-san walked up to the table and sat down in front of me, holding the albums in her arms. Then she put the album on the table.

“Can we talk about the summer festival after we look at the album?”

Kiniwa-san, who nervously raised her voice, averted her gaze slightly from me. Her eyes were shaking.

I guess she’s trying hard to look calm, but it’s obvious that she’s upset.

“Of course.”

Without saying anything else, I encouraged Kiniwa-san.

After getting my approval, she began to look at the album as if she had forgotten herself.

It’s funny how upset Kiniwa-san is. I can say it’s strange because Kiniwa-san is always calm.

Did she really think that Kanau-kun and I were in a relationship just because she saw the picture on my phone?

It’s not like Kiniwa-san at all.

◆

After spending about thirty minutes looking through the albums in silence, Kiniwa-san closed the last page of the last album and let out a sigh.

Then she looked up and saw me.

Her eyes and expression had lost the agitation she had before looking at the album.

“It was just as I expected…… but a little different from what I expected.”

After muttering that, Kiniwa-san raised her right hand, and then――.

With her raised right hand, she slapped the table with a bang so vigorously that I couldn’t help but be startled.

“I didn’t notice her because she was always with me, but then I saw her waiting for me on my phone and I realized! Amane-chan is getting cuter by the minute!”

Kiniwa-san shouted and pointed at me.

“They say that a maiden in love becomes beautiful, and I was impatient to see if Kanau-kun was the reason why she suddenly became so pretty, but from the pictures, it looks like he’s not! Alice-chan is also rapidly getting prettier, and since the timing of the two coincides perfectly, it seems that Alice-chan is the cause.”

I heard Kiniwa-san’s shout and thought, “I see.”

I thought it wasn’t like you, Kiniwa-san, but it was the opposite. It was because she was Kiniwa-san that she was upset.

Takanashi-san was shocked by Kanau-kun’s presence, but Kiniwa-san was surprised when she saw the picture on my phone and noticed that I was clearly different from the way I was before.

And I guess she was shocked to think that Kanau-kun was the one who changed me.

But after looking at the album, I’m convinced that the reason for my change is not Kanau-kun, but Alice.

I don’t know if I’m prettier than before, but I’m sure I’ve changed.

After all, the contents are different from before.

Kiniwa-san is usually so relaxed, but you have a frightening amount of insight, observation, and intuition.

Is this what makes mind-reading possible?

Kiniwa-san, you are a terrible child.

“I see. I’ve been feeling a strange sense of comfort from you lately, but I guess that’s why.”

She put her finger on her chin, turned her head slightly and mumbled, and looked at me.

“I need to interrogate Alice-chan, so I’m leaving.”

Then Kiniwa-san took out her phone, operated it, and put it to her ear.

“Hello, Rin-chan, is Alice-chan by your side?”

Kiniwa-san asks into her phone. The person on the other end of the line seems to be Takanashi-san.

“Yes, you’re here, aren’t you? Then secure……!”

I was startled by Kiniwa-san’s sudden shout.

“I don’t think Amane and Kanau-kun are in a relationship! Apart from that, we have to interrogate Alice-chan! The possibility that she might be doing this or that to Amane-chan has surfaced! So please take her into custody as soon as possible!”

After shouting with tremendous energy, Kiniwa-san hung up the call, looked at me, and smiled. Then she stood up, waved her hand at me, and strode out of the room.

What? Interrogating Alice? Something like that?

It’s good that you have a good intuition, but are you sure you’re not misunderstanding something again?

◆

About two hours later, Alice came home.

She was as red as a boiled octopus, but when she saw me, she turned even redder.

“A-Alice, Alice didn’t do anything naughty like that to onee-chan!”

After shouting such a thing, Alice ran and went upstairs.

Kiniwa-san said she was going to interrogate her and left, and when she came back, she said that Alice was……

I wonder what kind of interrogation she gave her.

I’m curious, but I’m afraid to ask.