Chapter 135: Dying

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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[Ayano PoV]

“Icchi is really hard to read sometimes, isn’t he?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

About 30 minutes had passed since he left to grab his pajamas.

“I wonder if his sister is like that too.”

“She must be even harder to read.”

[—”Icchi-ni is coming today, right?”—]

After finishing my dance performance, I came home early. 

When I told Kanon that he would be coming over, she jumped for joy.

She always gets excited when Momo visits, too. But when it’s Toumachi-kun, she reacts more like she’s bouncing around waiting for dad to come home.

It feels like he’s really used to interacting with younger kids, and that phone call confirmed it for me.

《—”Icchi-Nii… the sports festival is coming up soon, right?”—》

I didn't even know he had a sister. 

He rarely talks about himself. He should tell me more.

But judging by the tone of that conversation, it didn’t seem like his sister was as attached to him as Kanon is to Toumachi-kun.

I'm curious. 

It's amusing to see him flustered, and if he was that awkward over the phone, I bet it'd be even worse in person.

What am I even thinking? I’m being awful.

Ding dong—

“Oh, Icchi's back.”

“That was quick.”

“I'll get the door! Haha, wow, he sounds out of breath.”

“If it wasn't Toumachi-kun, he'd be a total creeper.”

“Hey, wait a sec—”

“?”

[……I can hear you.]

Huh? The mic was on?! I didn’t realize…

“Ah, s-sorry! That was really rude of me.”

[Haha, don't worry about it. I'm used to it.]

Is he really okay? 

Toumachi-kun sure is tough.

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[Toumachi PoV]

[—”If it wasn't Toumachi-kun, he'd be a total creeper.”—]

The words echoed in my mind as I made my way back into the Kisaragi household (yep, I’m the “creeper” now). 

There's something comforting about the scent here (not helping my case as a potential creeper).

I lined up my shoes neatly (like a gentleman).

I arrived at the entrance. 

“Illegal entry” commenced (nothing to see here, just your friendly neighborhood… me).

“Ah…”

My mind was still looping Kisaragi-san's words over and over. 

Why does it feel worse hearing it from someone else, even though I think the same thing? Ah, humans are such curious beings.

Please, brain, can you just focus?

“Ah, the sacred Kisaragi household doorbell (valued at least ¥1,000,000, probably). I’m sorry for breathing on it.”

I'll pay for it over a billion-year mortgage… (Feels like I'm in purgatory).

Haa…

“Are you okay, Icchi?”

“Yes (no) (yes) (no).”

“Which is it…?”

“I'm fine… I brought my pajamas…”

“Wait, what's all that?”

“That's quite a lot of luggage for just pajamas.”

She was right. If I only needed pajamas, I wouldn't have packed such a huge tote bag, and it's stuffed full.

This is probably the time to tell them, right?

No turning back now. Time to ride this big wave (Android for life).

“A-aah, I brought an album with me… (voice trembling).”

“…Why now? We’re done, aren't we?”

“Huh? Isn’t that a bit too big?”

Aaahhh!!! Did I mess up? Did I mess up!? 

What do you mean ‘too big’? My awkwardness? 

And what do you mean by ‘done’? Our friendship?

But there was no stopping it now. 

The die had been cast (I threw it myself).

“Oh, well, I just thought, you know, since we’re here… Maybe I could see some old photos of you, Kisaragi-san, and Kanon-chan (age 5), you know? So I brought my album too. Haha (speaking fast).”

“Photos…?”

“Huh?”

Aaahhh!!! (second round). 

Just kill me already.

This wasn't like that time I could hide behind some awkward joke with cheap curry (pun intended) (ah, the memories). 

I couldn't escape. The confused looks on their faces were enough to tell me my time was up—

“Ah!!”

“Eh?”

“I want to see!!!”

“…What…?”

Suddenly, Hatsune-san shouted that.

“Ah, so it's a photo album and not a CD!”

“Oh… I got a bit mixed up. I guess the dance lessons have me thinking about something else.”

“Oh, right… (revived).”

Ah, that makes sense. 

As relief washed over me, I felt something else rise within me: 

I… had somehow survived (barely).