Volume 4 - CH 9

My shift ended for the day, and after taking a comfortable shower, I had some lunch, played some games, had a nap, got some milk from the kitchen, and thought about how to deliver today’s report to Ashida and Natsukawa, when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

‘So, are you done working for the day?’

My, that’s fast. It’s my Goddess, Natsukawa-sama. Today, I feel just as uneasy. Before, I didn’t know how to explain the case of making Ichinose-san prostrate herself in front of me, but how do I proceed this time around…?

No wait, calm down. That is about Natsukawa’s punishment for me, right? In the end, I just had to ask Ichinose-san why she didn’t quit work, didn’t I. I don’t have to give details as to why. Not to mention that it’d be pretty awkward to talk about that with a girl. I just have to tell them that she had a reason to be independent.

‘Dear Natsukawa-sama, how are you doing during this oppressing heat like it was the first day of Autumn? I cannot thank you enough for your humble presence and kind words.’

‘What kind of greeting is that?’

Ah, I messed up…Together with the faint hope that she wouldn’t contact me again, and full-blown happiness at our exchange, together with my deep faith and respect for her, I just blurted out a retarded greeting…! Crap, right when I relax for a second, this happens. Humble presence and kind words? I’m just grateful that she was born, is all.

‘Well, you know…I just wanted to go above and beyond a bit? The heat wave is just getting to me.’

‘…Don’t force yourself too much.’

H-Huh? She’s so…kind. Weird, I thought she’d give me the cold shoulder or something. If anything, her older sister strength has gone up? Maybe she was doing some power leveling over summer break? Maybe she already learned a new skill? Some one-hit kill?

‘Right back at you, don’t go overboard playing with Airi-chan, Onee-chan.’

………

“…………Hm?”

So, could I get a response by any chance? Eh, was she disgusted by that? No, that shouldn’t be the case. Haha, it seems like my younger brother attribute got the better of me…For a second, it really felt like I was her little brother. That’s why Natsukawa isn’t disgusted, I have faith. I pray, rather. But, I also want to cry.

‘Don’t…no Onee-chan, please.’

‘Ah, okay.’

This one’s serious. I mean, just like Natsukawa absolutely adores Airi-chan to the point of being a siscon, I have my own unfortunate fate with my blood-related Kaede-chan. This is like a complex after all. I love how she eats steamed buns all day, and has the scale scream in agony. Especially the part where she has her navel in the open all day, absolutely defenceless, ahahaha.

“…What, you were here? Make me some coffee, will you. The cold one. 8-2 milk. One spoon of sugar, with some caramel powder.”

“Could I have one minute?”

“Will it take that long?”

“It shall take a brief moment, indeed.”

Oh, why did I suddenly speak all polite?

*

After thinking about it, it seems that I really had a punishment weighing down on me. Namely, to ask Ichinose-san, who I had practically forced to prostrate herself in front of me, about her circumstances. Basically, I was told to inquire about those circumstances, come home, and then tell Natsukawa, probably. Despite not gaining anything from it, Natsukawa prioritized my convenience over hers. What, is she some kind of Goddess? I’m seriously going to fall for her…Oh wait, I already did.

But, calling her Onee-chan is NG apparently. It really is a shame.

‘Sorry, I was ordered by Big Sis and couldn’t respond.’

‘Ah, your Onee-san?’

‘Although it pains me to say it.’

‘Don’t say that, hmpf.’

Hmpf. So cute. I was sitting in my room, returning a message after I had calmed down a bit, only to get back one from Natsukawa, almost like she was waiting for me. That thought alone had me nervous, unable to come up with any words to say. Just thinking that I am normally texting with Natsukawa has me all weird…Ahh, happy…I’m so happy…!

‘Isn’t that just because you said something unnecessary?’

‘No, I seriously didn’t say anything.’

My head is going crazy. Because I’m talking with someone as cute as Natsukawa, just texting is super fun. I can talk as much as I want without having to worry about showing a gross face.

‘So, how did it go?’

‘Talking about work? I asked her. Something about wanting to be independent and so on…’

‘…Does she have it that rough?’

Rough…Well, even if I explained it to girls like Natsukawa or Ashida, I doubt they would understand it…After all, I’m having it about as rough as Ichinose-san. I didn’t think it’d be that heavy of a reason…Never met a girl who was trying to live separately from her older brother…

‘It’s not some complicated family-related reason, but…just, she wants to aim higher, I guess?’

‘Is that true? I don’t think you wouldn’t work to be independent with a proper reason. She’s a docile girl in the same class as us, right?’

‘Ah, well, right.’

‘What’s going on…?’

I tried to explain the situation without revealing too much. If not, things would 100% turn awkward. After all, it’s Natsukawa. I confessed to her before. It’s not something I should talk about with her. At the very least, I want Ashida to be with me. She’s like my final trump card, and my only way to get out of it.

‘She, well, has an older brother, but in order to live independently from him, she’s trying to now stand on her own two feet.’

‘Huh…Eh? What?’

She doesn’t…get it? Eh, is she lacking information? Maybe it’s too hard for her to understand, since she doesn’t have an older brother? Maybe it’s just a shock because she loves Airi-chan that much. I’m not lying at all, just choosing the information selectively. Let me use a simple example.

‘Look, whether it’s brothers or sisters, you sometimes think of them as annoying, right?’

‘I don’t, no.’

‘Oh, right…’

Well, Natsukawa…you’re not the same age. A younger sister Airi-chan’s age can only be cute. Just wait for her to grow up. As for me and Big Sis…well, it’s always been a bit troublesome between us…Wait, is it just the two of us? Are we the weird ones? Do all siblings in this world actually love each other? Love and peace?

‘So, this is just a what-if. Basically, Airi-chan ended up so clingy, you got annoyed by her.’

‘I don’t get it.’

‘Oh, huh…’

Maybe…my explanation was just bad? I didn’t think I was that bad at teaching others, though. Eh, do I just suck at explaining things? That’s not it, right? It’s just that Natsukawa loves Airi-chan a bit too much, right?

‘I don’t think such a day will ever come.’

‘Y-Yeah! You’re right! Airi-chan really loves her Onee-chan after all!’

……Hm? Ehm, she did read my message, but…

‘Stop with the whole Onee-chan thing.’

‘Ah, my bad.’

That’s right…Eh? Is it that gross? I feel like that was pretty average of a conversation…I mean, gross things are gross after all. Thinking about it rationally, I just called her ‘Onee-chan~’, right…I see. This is pretty much terrorism.

‘Alright, I get it. I’ll give you a different example. Imagine in ten years, Airi-chan brings home a boyfriend.’

‘Huh?’

Eeeeek! N-Natsukawa-san…? Are you really that level of a siscon? Ashida wasn’t just joking? I mean, she would let me carry Airi-chan, right? A total siscon wouldn’t even allow that to happen, would they…If I was Airi-chan’s older brother, I would only have her attend girls only schools. I wouldn’t even dare to touch her myself.

‘What was that…about Airi?’

‘Ah, well…’

‘Yes?’

Ahh, I’m scared. So scared. This pressure outside words. Like I’m being crushed…No, wait? Pressure from Natsukawa? Doesn’t this mean that I can directly feel her? Moron, shut up. Don’t just get washed along the flow. That’ll never end in a good way. What if you annoy Natsukawa again? I want to avoid that at all costs. So, I need to proceed while considering Natsukawa’s mood.

‘N-Natsukawa-san…Are you angry?’

‘I’m not. Not at all. So, what? Continue?’

You really don’t want me to continue, right? I mean, I’m the one at fault here, so I gotta give up. It pains me, but…I should probably cut off this conversation. Take a nap, and wait for Ashida’s club to end. Then, she can provide some proper follow-up—

‘Hey, continue?’

‘Alright.’

Natsukawa won’t let me sleep after all. Ah, that sounds nice.

‘So…Well, there might be a chance that Airi-chan could bring a boyfriend home one day—’

‘What’s his yearly income?’

‘Yearly…what?’

Yearly income? She’s wondering about that? Even in ten years, Airi-chan will only be…fifteen, so if she brings a boyfriend over, he’d still be a student. So, using yearly income is a bit…No, this is Natsukawa. She should be aware of that, and probably still asked. You idiot, Sajou. She wishes for Airi-chan’s happiness. And, I didn’t even realize that…!

So…if she’ll bring a boyfriend home, he’s plus minus two years of hers. Assuming that most guys don’t work part-time, I’ll ignore that…So, adding the New Year’s gifts from his parents for 10.000, and a monthly allowance of 5.000 yen…then…No, adding the other New Year’s gifts…and a bit more than 10k…So…

‘Um, maybe like 100.000…?’

‘100.000 dollars? Not bad.’

Eh, wha, um.