Chapter 138: Fairy tales

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Translator: Soafp

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Morning brought a different scent. The only thing unchanged was the sunlight and my watch pointing to 5.

In a situation like this, it seemed my internal clock was surprisingly reliable. However, my ears must have gone haywire.

《—”Good morning, Hajime-Nii…”—》

This can't be happening.

The voice of someone from my past, her childlike voice, echoed in my mind. Memories from when we were barely more than elementary school kids.

A dream? No, this warmth was real. 

But it didn't make sense. How?

…Think it through. She's in America. 

And right now, this room is—

“I spent the night… at Kisaragi-san's house… (realization hitting late).”

I muttered to myself, finally recognizing the abnormality of this situation. 

And with that, I turned my thoughts to the current predicament.

“Icchi…”

This warmth beside me… is it real? (My sentence awaits).

When did this happen? It's 5 AM! 

Am I really not going to get arrested for this?

Sure, before I could use napping as an excuse, but now it's morning. 

I can't explain this away. The sun's up; we've crossed the line here (not the time for jokes).

—Ping!

“!?!!!”

The police!? I freaked out for a moment. Of course, it wasn't.

But seriously, why was I panicking this much?

It’s not like I exchanged LIME with the police or anything. That'd be weird (common criminal much?).

…

I looked at my phone, and the name on the screen was one I recognized. 

It might be someone scarier than the police.

Rio☆: “Toumachi, what are you doing right now?”

“…!”

The timing.

This message, in this situation.

It's 5 AM, right? 

How could she possibly know? Was I under her control this whole time?

No, calm down. 

There's no way. Even if she's a demon lord, that's too much!

Hajime Toumachi : “Good morning. I just woke up. How are you, Hiiragi-san?”

Rio☆: “Oh, I knew it! Good morning! I’m waiting for work to start right now!”

Rio☆: “By the way…”

Rio☆: “Toumachi, are you at Kisaragi's house?”

“!!?”

How? 

How does she know? 

I mean, even if she figured it out, I'm not doing anything wrong (desperately trying to convince myself).

“Icchi…”

“…”

Maybe I am doing something wrong (confession time).

Rio☆: “Did I seriously guess right?”

Rio☆: “I figured you might be since you were hanging out after the test, and you've been at her place since the dance performance. So, did you just stay over?”

Rio☆: “Oh, I was right! I'm amazing! Detective Rio☆ on the case!”

All I could do was read the messages. 

And feel utterly exposed.

“…R-Rio is amazing (panic)…”

At this point, there was no hiding anything.

Hajime Toumachi: “It’s nice weather again today.”

Rio☆: “Make sure to tell me about today again☆”

Hajime Toumachi: “Yes…”

Rio☆: “You don’t have anything to hide, do you?”

Hajime Toumachi: “No.”

Rio☆: “So you do have something☆.”

“Ah, um…”

In front of her, who exposes everything even in messages, I have no way to escape.

…No, let’s think differently.

Isn’t it good to ask her for guidance?

For the arrival of my family.

If there’s anyone who could know everything (which isn’t true), it would be her.

Hajime Toumachi: “By the way, I wanted to ask for your advice again. Is Monday okay?”

Rio☆: “Uwa☆ Are you going to take responsibility?”

Hajime Toumachi: “No, that’s not it.”

Rio☆: “Fast!”

Rio☆: “I’m looking forward to give you advice☆. Well then, I’m off to work!”

Hajime Toumachi: “Take care.”

“…”

A five-minute storm.

After all, Hiiragi is kind.

It’s scary, though. Scary (it’s important, so I’ll say it twice).

She’s like that character in novels who is a super strong enemy but becomes reliable when they are on your side.

…Now then.

With a little hope for the future visible, let’s work on resolving the present.

“…”

The little angel (5) squirming around is holding my arm.

“Papa…”

“I’m not your papa (speaking quickly).”

“♪”

“I’m not your papa (desperately).”

“Pa—”

“Stop—”

“Pasta…”

“…”

If this were seen by Kanon's papa (how rude), I'd probably get punched.

I mean, I'd be banned from entering.

“Kanon-chan (5), let go…”

“No, Papa is going away again…”

“Huh?”

While still holding onto my arm, Kanon murmurs this in her sleep.

[――”Papa’s room isn’t being used at all.”――]

I remember the faint voice of Kisaragi-san.

…Could it be that she's often away on business or something?

Somehow, it makes sense.

Now I understand why this little girl has become so attached to me.

Of course, it must have started with this hair color.

“…”

I understand her feelings.

When I was small, my parents were busy, too.

My mother took care of me, but my father wasn't home much.

…That image overlaps with distant memories.

When Nina was small.

To her, who felt lonely, I was still able to be an “Onii”—

“…Mmm… Ah. Icchi-Nii, good morning, Icchi-Nii.”

As I felt her stir, she rubbed her sleepy eyes.

Maybe because of the sleep talking earlier, she looks smaller than usual.

Well, that makes sense… she’s a five-year-old girl, after all.

“I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“Mmm…”

“You could have slept a little longer.”

“…Ugh…”

“Can't you sleep?”

She seems a bit lonely.

In times like this—back in my ancient days—

《――”Icchi—”――》

The overlapping image of my sister and Kanon pulls that out from the depths of my memory.

“…Oh.”

I'm in the room of her father.

Amidst the business books, some slightly old novels, and books for certification studies—definitely adult books—there’s something that stands out.

The Tortoise and the Hare.

It’s a picture book of a fairy tale that everyone knows.

“Can you read that for me, Icchi-Nii?”

“Huh? Is it okay if I just take it?”

“—Read it!”

“Well, I guess it's fine… come here.”

“Yay!”

Sitting on the futon, Kanon-chan naturally sat on my crossed legs.

Strangely enough, this picture book brings back memories from the past.

The scenery has definitely grown taller compared to my childhood memories.

“Once upon a time, there was a mean rabbit—”

---

“—And what the rabbit saw was the tortoise happily at the foot of the mountain.”

“…”

“That’s the end, that’s the end… Kanon-chan?”

Surprisingly, Kanon-chan had been completely quiet.

She sat still in front of me—

“Rabbit!”

“Huh?”

“If you hadn't slept, you would have won!”

“Y-Yeah, that's true (confused).”

I was taken aback.

It seems she had some dissatisfaction with the story.

No, she's completely right.

What's up with this rabbit (a guy getting mad at a fairy tale)?

Is there anyone who sleeps during a marathon? Come on, think of the people around (seriously).

“The tortoise isn’t cute.”

“Eh…?”

Even here, the difference in looks shows.

But that victorious expression on the tortoise's face is a bit creepy… well, I'll stop there.

The message this fairy tale wants to convey is simple and clear.

Never underestimate your opponent; that's the whole point.

However, before understanding that, there's the issue of her preferences (?).

“Kanon wants a cute rabbit.”

“!”

“If you say that, Papa will be in trouble.”

“Haha… so this story is still the same on the second read.”

[――”Nina wants the rabbit.”――]

Kanon-chan’s voice, throwing a tantrum, echoes from a long time ago.

Just like back then, I gently patted the head of the girl in front of me and opened my mouth.

“Just like you said, if this rabbit hadn't slept during the race… it would have easily beaten the tortoise, right?”

“Yeah… but that would be unfair to the tortoise.”

Her modest response brings back nostalgia.

That's right. This is a complete denial of the fairy tale—of the story.

A serious rabbit wouldn't deny the tortoise for fun and wouldn't mock its slowness. In the first place, the race would never even start.

There would be no conflict.

“Then, I hope Kanon-chan becomes a hardworking rabbit.”

“…?”

“I want you to be a rabbit who can even run while carrying a troubled tortoise.”

I lined up my words quite nicely. But I feel like I said something similar back in ancient times.

“—Yeah!”

That smile reminds me of Nina from back then.

Again, I patted Kanon-chan's head.

Seeing her look so comfortable, I was healed once more.

I wonder if it's nighttime in America now?

How is she spending her time right now?

…Thinking back to the time when my little sister, who now leaves me behind, had moments like this.

“Icchi-Nii, let's sing!”

“Huh?”

“Hello, tortoise is calling—♪”

“H-Hello (Tone deaf).”

She flapped her feet and sang.

Haha, Nina was probably a bit quieter than this.