Chapter 161: Once you start, you can’t stop

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Translator: Soafp

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[Ayano PoV]

――Pikon

“!”

“Ayano~?”

“Ah, I just got a message from Toumachi-kun.”

“—Icchi-Nii!!”

“Wah! Really… Fufu.”

I can't help but smile as Kanon snuggles up to my lap, peeking at the screen.

Hajime Toumachi: “I'm feeling a bit lonely. Is it okay if I come over today?”

Ayano: “Of course, that's fine.”

Hajime Toumachi: “Sorry for coming over yesterday too.”

Ayano: “Hurry up!”

Ayano: [rabbit stamp]

Hajime Toumachi: “Oh, is that Kanon-chan?”

Before I know it, Kanon is holding the phone.

“Hey! Don't just type without asking!”

“I'm not texting! Kanon wants to ‘talk' to Icchi-Nii too!”

“That's not talking; it's messaging!”

“Muu!! I'll go get him!”

“Wait, hold on!”

It's almost 9 PM.

At this time, we'd usually be starting to doze off…

“I'll wait outside!!”

“Eh…?”

So energetic.

Before I know it, she's opened the front door.

We're both in our pajamas!

…Well, I guess it's fine if it's him.

“Wait, what?”

Now that I think about it, I left my phone with Kanon—

[Hello! Is this Icchi-Nii's phone?]

“Kanon, give it back!”

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[Toumachi PoV]

Before leaving the house.

I wonder how many times I've looked at this today.

“…”

The photo folder on my phone.

In it is a snapshot of me and Shiori together.

I'm awkwardly smiling.

She's blushing under the streetlights.

I think to myself… I'm glad I took this.

It will surely be a good memory.

“I'm not usually like this.”

I used to hate photos.

“Used to” is the key phrase since I actually wanted to take some earlier.

But now it's different.

I want to preserve more memories with everyone and this hair color.

That's what I think.

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“~♪”

I hum (or maybe it’s noise) as I make my way to her house.

I know I'm being a little too needy, but honestly, it feels nice right now—

“Ah!!!”

“Ara!”

“!?!?”

And there they are, the two angels waiting outside the door… (Second time ascending to heaven).

“Huh? (dead)”

My brain can't comprehend this.

Why are they waiting outside? Why are they in their pajamas?

“Icchi-Nii! You took too long!”

And just like that, one of the angels comes flying toward me.

There's no way I can ignore her, so I crouch down to catch her.

“Nfu♪”

“Ofuu… (Officer, it's this guy).”

Is something wrong with my common sense?

Maybe I've somehow arrived in a parallel world where I've become a social butterfly.

“Kanon-chan is seriously cute! Like, next level (social).”

“Stop that.”

“Eh? Ah! (introverted)”

“Don't ever do that again.”

“Eek.”

S-Scary.

She was an angel just a moment ago!

It feels like the abyss is staring back at me—

“Kanon-sama, I will never do that again (serious reflection).”

“I love Icchi-Nii♪”

“O (self-reporting to the police).”

Kanon-chan hugs me again.

…Well, just for the record.

We're outside!

“Fufu, you two really get along.”

Behind us, Kisaragi-san, still in her pajamas, smiles at us.

Dressed in thin white silk, she's—

Utterly defenseless.

You'd never guess a young man (me) is right in front of her.

“We're outside! (Second time).”

No, seriously, it's true.

Kisaragi-san is a bit absent-minded.

“Please, Kisaragi-san, just put this on…”

“Ara”

“It’s just what I put on earlier (preemptive attack)”

“I don't mind… but it's still a bit chilly at night.”

“Right? They say it'll get warmer when it rains next.”

It's been getting a bit warmer lately, but it's still cool at night.

As an introvert (officially recognized), I dislike showing skin.

“Fufu. It's warm—”

“Hey, that's not fair, Ayano!”

“Ah, come on! I can stretch it out, right!?”

“Eh…”

Just then, Kanon-chan tugs at Kisaragi-san’s cardigan.

Hey, cardigan, trade places with me (super cold).

“Kanon wants it too!”

“No way, Kanon has a higher body temperature!”

“No!”

In front of me, the sisters are bickering.

It's somehow amusing.

“Haha! What are we doing outside?”

It's warm.

I can't help it.

I want to stay here forever.

I want to capture this moment in a single image.

Surely, this time will never come again.

“Um, can I take a photo?”